TORONTO – Ryan Nembhard’s had many great influences in his basketball profession. His father Claude is the chief executive officer of the Ontario Basketball Association, his brother Andrew is the place to begin guard for the Indiana Pacers, he grew up around Toronto Raptors star RJ Barrett.
But now Jason Kidd — among the best point guards in NBA history — is his head coach on the Dallas Mavericks.
The youngest Nembhard signed a two-way take care of the Mavericks in July and he has turn out to be a fixture in Dallas’s rotation, appearing in 43 games to date this season.
The native of Aurora, Ont., said that he’s enjoyed learning from Kidd, who was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame as a person in 2018 and again in 2025 as a member of the so-called Redeem Team that won men’s Olympic basketball gold for the USA in 2008.
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“Certainly one of the best guards to ever do it, a brilliant high basketball IQ and just understanding of the sport,” said Nembhard on Sunday before Toronto routed the Mavericks 122-92. “He’s taught me rather a lot, and it’s been nice to learn from him and take rather a lot in.”
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The 22-year-old Nembhard played two seasons of U.S. collegiate ball at Creighton before transferring to Gonzaga for 2 more years of NCAA basketball. Within the 2024-25 season Nembhard averaged 10.5 points, 9.8 assists and three rebounds over 35 games for the Gonzaga Bulldogs.
His 344 assists were essentially the most of any NCAA men’s basketball player that season.
Despite that collegiate success, Nembhard said he still has room to grow.
“It’s been a learning process, obviously, but it surely’s been good,” said Nembhard within the visitors’ locker room at Scotiabank Arena. “Vets and the team on the whole have been helping me out throughout the method, just learning on the fly.
“I feel I’ve picked it up pretty much.”
Nembhard was averaging 6.6 points, 4.7 assists, 1.8 rebounds and 0.3 steals over 18.5 minutes per game heading into Sunday. He had two points, two assists, a rebound and a steal in five minutes of play against the Raptors.
Kidd said that Nembhard isn’t afraid of NBA-calibre competition and that having an older brother within the league likely helps, too.
“So he understands what it means to work and be counted on. He deserves that contract,” said Kidd. “He’s played extremely well for us, and we’d like him to try this for the remainder of the season.”
Barrett, who grew up fiddling with Andrew Nembhard, said that Ryan Nembhard has “all the time been around.”
“Him and my little brother (Nathan) were roommates at Montverde Academy (a prep school in Florida) and every thing,” said Barrett. “So, Ryan’s like somewhat brother to me, and it’s great to see him on the market.”
Added Barrett with amusing: “He stole the ball from me, though. I’m just glad to see him on the market getting a shot.”
This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 9, 2026.
© 2026 The Canadian Press