Andrew Nembhard Continues to Prove What Pacers Already Know About Him

In the high-stakes world of the NBA, where every possession can swing a season and every matchup tests a player’s mettle, few narratives are as compelling as that of the unsung hero who rises when the spotlight intensifies. For the Indiana Pacers, that hero has been Andrew Nembhard—a 25-year-old Canadian guard whose quiet demeanor belies a ferocious competitiveness that thrives under pressure. As the 2025-26 season unfolds amid unforeseen adversity, Nembhard is once again validating what his coaches, teammates, and front office have long recognized: no matter the circumstances, he steps up. With Tyrese Haliburton sidelined by a torn Achilles and the team navigating a rebuild-like reality, Nembhard’s emergence as the primary ballhandler isn’t just a stopgap—it’s a revelation. His poise, defensive tenacity, and offensive growth are carrying the Pacers through turbulent waters, proving that the pressure doesn’t break him; it builds him.

The Pacers’ faith in Nembhard isn’t a recent epiphany. It traces back to his draft night in 2022, when Indiana selected the Gonzaga product 31st overall, the first pick of the second round. At the time, he was viewed as a high-floor, low-ceiling prospect—a steady combo guard with elite passing vision but lacking the explosive athleticism of flashier peers. Yet, from his rookie season onward, Nembhard has defied those limitations, particularly when the games matter most. “Drew doesn’t flinch,” Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle said after a pivotal playoff win in 2024, a sentiment echoed throughout the organization. In a league where stars like Haliburton draw the headlines, Nembhard has been the glue, the one who elevates his game when the margin for error shrinks to zero.

This season’s challenges have amplified that trait. Haliburton’s devastating injury in Game 7 of the 2025 NBA Finals—a heartbreaking torn Achilles—left a void that no one could fully fill. The Pacers, fresh off a Finals appearance that showcased their blistering offense, suddenly faced questions about their identity. Myles Turner’s offseason trade to the Milwaukee Bucks further reshuffled the deck, thrusting younger players like Isaiah Jackson into starting roles and demanding more from veterans like Pascal Siakam and Bennedict Mathurin. Into this breach stepped Nembhard, not as a Haliburton clone, but as his own force: methodical, resilient, and unrelenting.

Early returns have been electric. In his first 15 games back from a nagging shoulder injury that sidelined him for the season’s opening weeks, Nembhard is averaging 18.8 points, 2.2 rebounds, 6.8 assists, and 1.0 steals on 44.5% field goal shooting and 36.7% from three. The Pacers are 9-6 in those contests, including a four-out-of-six win streak that has them clawing back into playoff contention. “He’s not Tyrese, and we’re not asking him to be,” Carlisle noted postgame after a December victory over the Sacramento Kings. “Drew brings structure, smarts, and that dogged defense. That’s what we need right now.” Nembhard’s usage rate has spiked to 22.1%, a career high, yet his turnover rate remains a league-low 1.8% for primary ballhandlers—testimony to his unflappable decision-making.

Nembhard’s roots run deep in a family steeped in basketball excellence, which helps explain his composure. Born in Aurora, Ontario, he grew up idolizing his father, Claude Nembhard, a former professional player in Canada who coached both Andrew and his younger brother, Ryan (now a standout at Creighton University). The Nembhard household was a pressure cooker of sorts, but one built on positivity and preparation. “My dad always said, ‘Be elite,'” Andrew recalled in a 2025 interview with The Indianapolis Star. “We wore these wristbands as kids—’Be Elite’—to remind us to stay focused, no matter the noise.” That mantra manifested early. At Montverde Academy, Nembhard led a star-studded squad featuring RJ Barrett and Cade Cunningham to an undefeated national championship in 2018. At Gonzaga, he orchestrated a Final Four run in 2021, earning All-Final Four honors with 18 points and nine assists in the semifinal against UCLA.

What set Nembhard apart, even then, was his ability to perform when the stakes escalated. In that Final Four thriller, with the Bulldogs trailing by double digits late, he dissected the Bruins’ defense, hitting pull-up jumpers and threading no-look passes that kept hope alive. “He’s got that quiet fire,” Gonzaga coach Mark Few said. “Doesn’t say much, but when the game’s on the line, he speaks with his play.” It’s a trait that translated seamlessly to the pros, where Nembhard’s rookie year was defined by a Game 4 takeover in the 2023 playoffs against the Cleveland Cavaliers. With Haliburton hobbled, Nembhard dropped 32 points—including a game-sealing step-back three—propelling Indiana to a series-clinching victory.

Fast-forward to the 2025 playoffs, and Nembhard’s clutch gene was on full display. In the first-round series against the Milwaukee Bucks, he elevated from a regular-season 10.0 points per game to 15.0 on 49.2% shooting, including 50% from deep. Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals against the New York Knicks stands as a microcosm: trailing 2-0, the Pacers needed a spark. Nembhard delivered a tie-breaking three with 16.4 seconds left, staving off a sweep and igniting a seven-game comeback. “That shot? It was just the next play,” he downplayed afterward, but teammates knew better. “Drew’s the guy you want with the ball in crunch time,” Siakam said. “He doesn’t get rattled.”

The Eastern Conference Finals against the Boston Celtics tested that resolve further. With Haliburton straining his hamstring in Game 2, Nembhard shouldered the load in Games 3 and 4, combining for 56 points on 56.4% shooting and 53.8% from three, plus 13 assists. Though Indiana fell short, Nembhard’s poise kept the series competitive, earning him praise from Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla: “Kid’s got ice in his veins.”

No stage loomed larger than the 2025 NBA Finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder. As the underdog, the Pacers leaned on Nembhard to contain MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, a matchup that would break lesser guards. Tasked with full-court pressure, Nembhard shadowed SGA relentlessly, holding him to 29.4% shooting when guarded by him or Aaron Nesmith in Game 1. Offensively, he dazzled with a step-back three over Gilgeous-Alexander in Game 2, keeping Indiana within striking distance for Haliburton’s buzzer-beater. “Guarding SGA is like wrestling a tornado,” Nembhard admitted postgame. “But I love the challenge. It’s what I train for.” In Games 6 and 7, with Haliburton battling a calf strain, Nembhard averaged 16 points on efficient shooting, though OKC ultimately prevailed. His Finals averages—14.2 points, 5.8 assists, 1.5 steals—underscored his two-way impact, and it was no coincidence that Indiana’s defensive rating improved by 8.2 points per 100 possessions with him on the floor.

That Finals run wasn’t just about stats; it was about intangibles. Nembhard’s vocal leadership emerged, organizing defensive schemes and hyping teammates during timeouts. “He’s the steady hand,” Carlisle said. “When things get chaotic, Drew brings order.” Teammates rave about his preparation—film sessions until midnight, weight room grinds that build his 6’4″, 193-pound frame into a bulldog defender. Nesmith, his defensive partner, calls him “the chess master on the court. He sees two steps ahead.”

Entering this season, the Pacers extended Nembhard with a four-year, $80 million deal, a vote of confidence that paid immediate dividends. Haliburton’s injury thrust him into the lead role prematurely, but Nembhard adapted seamlessly. His season debut against OKC—a 17-point, seven-assist effort despite the shoulder tweak—signaled his readiness. “I knew this day might come,” he said. “I’ve prepared for it every day.”

Nembhard’s offensive evolution has been particularly striking. Once criticized for a pedestrian mid-range game, he’s developed a lethal pull-up arsenal, shooting 38.2% on jumpers this season—a jump from 32.1% last year. Against the Denver Nuggets in early December, he torched Nikola Jokic with a hesitation dribble into a mid-range fadeaway, drawing “oohs” from the Gainbridge Fieldhouse crowd. His assist numbers reflect a facilitator’s touch: 6.3 per game, with a 2.8 assist-to-turnover ratio that ranks top-five among point guards.

Defensively, Nembhard is a tone-setter. The Pacers’ full-court press, a Carlisle staple, relies on his quick hands and anticipation—he’s averaging 1.2 steals, including a career-high five-steal game against Golden State in November. In January 2025, he earned Eastern Conference Defensive Player of the Month honors, anchoring a unit that held opponents to 108.4 points per 100 possessions with him on the floor. His “chair pull” technique—decelerating on drives to bait overcommits—has frustrated stars like Jrue Holiday and Derrick White in past matchups. “He’s physical without fouling, smart without gambling,” Siakam said. “That’s rare.”

Recent games illustrate Nembhard’s pressure-proof nature. On December 1 against the Cavaliers, he erupted for a career-high 32 points, eight assists, and two steals with zero turnovers—the third such 30-8-0 line in Pacers history. Three nights later, versus the Kings, he notched 28 points and a season-high 12 assists on 10-of-18 shooting, while limiting Zach LaVine to 33% efficiency. “Drew was everywhere,” Mathurin posted on X after the win. In a 120-105 rout of the Chicago Bulls on December 5, Nembhard’s 15 points and seven assists in 33 minutes fueled a third-quarter surge, turning a deficit into dominance.

These performances aren’t anomalies; they’re patterns. Since returning from injury, the Pacers are 6-3 with Nembhard in the lineup, outscoring opponents by 12.4 points per 100 possessions. His synergy with Siakam (21.5 points, 8.2 rebounds) and Mathurin (19.8 points, 41% from three) has created a balanced attack, while Jackson’s rim protection (1.8 blocks) complements Nembhard’s perimeter hounding. “We’re not the same team without him,” Siakam emphasized after a November thriller against Cleveland, where Nembhard’s late three preserved a win.

Off the court, Nembhard’s influence is subtle but profound. He’s mentored rookies like Jarace Walker, hosting film breakdowns and pickup runs. His philanthropy—donating to Canadian youth programs through the Nembhard Foundation—mirrors his grounded persona. “Basketball’s my outlet, but impact matters more,” he told ESPN in a 2025 profile. Teammates appreciate his levity, too—pranking Haliburton with fake trade rumors during rehab sessions.

Critics might point to the Pacers’ middling 11-7 record with Nembhard versus 5-10 without him as evidence of dependency. Fair, but it underscores his value. Early-season offensive rating dips to 109.3 (bottom-10 league-wide) highlight adjustment pains, yet Nembhard’s efficiency masks that: 17.5 points, 6.2 assists, 1.9 rebounds, 0.8 steals over 31 minutes. As the offense gels around his structured style—less improvisation, more pick-and-roll sets with Siakam—the numbers will climb.

Looking ahead, Nembhard’s trajectory points skyward. With Haliburton eyeing a 2026 return, the Pacers could boast a backcourt tandem rivaling the league’s best. For now, Nembhard is the man, and he’s embracing it. “Pressure’s a privilege,” he said after his 28-point double-double against Sacramento. “I’ve always known what this team sees in me. Now, it’s about showing the world.”

In a sport that chews up and spits out the unprepared, Andrew Nembhard is the exception—the player who doesn’t just survive pressure but savors it. The Pacers have known this for years, from playoff heroics to Finals grit. As December’s chill sets in and the playoff push looms, Nembhard’s stepping up isn’t a surprise; it’s the expectation. And in proving it night after night, he’s not just carrying Indiana—he’s redefining his legacy.