Report: Mavericks converting Canada’s Ryan Nembhard to standard NBA contract

Another Canadian appears to be sticking around the NBA for the foreseeable future.

A native of Aurora, Ont., the 22-year-old was on a two-way contract with the Mavericks this season after going undrafted in June 2025. Ryan’s older brother is Andrew Nembhard, a starting guard for the Indiana Pacers and a Canadian senior men’s national team member.

Since making his way to Dallas, the younger Nembhard has quickly shown why he was considered one of the NCAA’s top floor generals over his four collegiate seasons.

Through 38 appearances in the NBA, Nembhard is averaging 6.7 points, 1.8 rebounds and 4.9 assists, while shooting 37.9 per cent from beyond the arc. The Gonzaga product’s assist ratio per 100 possessions is the fifth-highest in the NBA among players to have made at least 30 appearances, right behind Toronto Raptors sophomore and backup point guard Jamal Shead.

Nembhard has also been a serviceable fill-in as a starter, stepping into the first five on 17 occasions in his first NBA season, averaging 9.9 points, 2.3 rebounds and 6.1 assists, while shooting 44.4 per cent from distance. He’s also been productive in the G League, averaging 23.0 points, 4.2 rebounds, 10.5 assists and 1.0 steals through six games with the Texas Legends.

Before joining the Mavs on a two-way deal, Nembhard built a decorated resume at the college level. From Big East freshman of the year (2021) with Creighton, to a two-time All-WCC first-teamer with Gonzaga (2024, 2025), and then leading the NCAA in assists as a senior. Nembhard, like his older brother, has also represented Canada at the international level, earning bronze at the FIBA U-19 World Cup.

And while the Mavericks sort out a guard rotation — while Kyrie Irving continues to rehab from injury — next to rookie phenom Cooper Flagg, it appears Nembhard has done enough to be part of that conversation moving forward.

According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, the Mavericks’ decision to waive Tyus Jones less than a day prior to Saturday’s news was made to create a roster spot for Nembhard and his new two-year NBA deal.