Ryan Nembhard closed his first NBA season with a wide-ranging end-of-year interview on Monday, April 13, discussing opportunity, development, and key moments that defined his role with the Mavericks.
The rookie guard described the intensity of late-game competition, including a sequence tied to rebounding effort in a winning finish. “You know, we got Moussa, got 20 rebounds, so he was trying to dig them out too. But, no, I was trying to get one for sure, but it’s all good. Good game, good win,” he said.
One of the standout moments of his season came when he set a new single-game rookie assist record. “Yeah, shout out coach for leaving me in and just letting me go get that. But credit to the guys for making shots,” he said. He emphasized execution, stating, “Trying to be aggressive, play the right way, and the guys made shots tonight, so it felt good.”
The guard highlighted the value of his situation and veteran presence throughout the year. “I think just the opportunity, getting the opportunity to play, and that’s part of the reason why I wanted to come here and knew there would be opportunity,” he said. He also pointed to leadership around him, noting, “Obviously, you’ve got Kai, Klay, coach as well, one of the all-time great point guards. And just the camaraderie he had as a team.”
Nembhard also reflected on internal expectations surrounding the team’s young cornerstone, offering direct praise for his approach. “Ever since day one, just the type of guy he is and how competitive he is and the joy he plays with and the joy he brings to the locker room every day is big time,” he said. “For a 19-year-old to come in and do that and command the respect of the guys is huge.”
Looking ahead, the guard outlined clear offseason goals focused on development and skill expansion. “I think there’s so much you can learn in the NBA, so many little tricks that you can add to your arsenal every summer and every offseason,” he said. “So there’s so much I want to improve on, and I got a lot that I’m looking forward to getting better at and bringing back to the table next year.”
He also confirmed plans to continue working with teammates during the summer, while leaving open the possibility of Summer League participation. “Hopefully, I want to play in the summer league if I can,” he said. “We’ll see what their plan is, but I definitely want to play in the summer league.”
Nembhard also detailed the early-season adjustment process and rookie responsibilities. “Towels, bags, anything they ask. It could be 2 a.m. in the morning, we just landed,” he said. Despite the workload, he pointed to a positive environment, adding, “It’s been a great group of vets here, and great to just learn from these guys.”
