When Cade Cunningham and Cooper Flagg take the floor Thursday night at American Airlines Center, the spotlight will naturally follow. Cunningham, the rising star leading a resurgent Pistons squad, and Flagg, the Mavericks’ hyped rookie, are the headline names. But there’s another young guard in the building who’s quietly turning heads and making a real impact - Ryan Nembhard.
Yes, that Ryan Nembhard - the undrafted guard out of Gonzaga who led the NCAA in assists last season and is now forcing his way into the conversation in Dallas. While the Mavericks were bracing for a tough stretch without Kyrie Irving, who’s still sidelined with a torn ACL, Nembhard has stepped into the void and brought life to a team that desperately needed it.
He’s not just filling minutes - he’s making them count. Nembhard dropped 28 points on the road against the defending champion Denver Nuggets back on Dec. 1 and has already notched three double-doubles this month. Since his minutes increased, Dallas has gone 5-3, and while that may not sound earth-shattering, it’s a meaningful turnaround for a team that was drifting dangerously close to the bottom of the Western Conference standings.
Standing at 5-foot-11, Nembhard might not look like a game-changer at first glance, but his game tells a different story. He’s quick, shifty, and sees the floor like a seasoned vet. And for those who’ve followed his journey closely - like Cade Cunningham - this rise isn’t exactly a shock.
The two go way back to their days at Montverde Academy, the Florida prep powerhouse that churns out NBA talent like a factory. Cunningham remembers the work they put in together, and he’s not surprised to see Nembhard making waves.
“Most importantly, he has a great feel for the game,” Cunningham told reporters. “Great instincts, knows where people are at.
He just has a great track of where bodies are on the floor and is able to make plays around it. He's fast, he's got a great handle and his jump shot has improved a ton.”
That court awareness - the ability to read defenders, anticipate movement, and deliver the right pass or shot - is what’s setting Nembhard apart. He’s not just reacting; he’s orchestrating. And Cunningham, now an All-NBA Third Team selection and the engine behind Detroit’s best-in-the-East start, saw it coming from a mile away.
“We knew he was going to be special, honestly,” Cunningham added. “Only thing was he was little, smaller than his brother {Indiana Pacers' Andrew Nembhard}.
Cade Cunningham on Mavs guard Ryan Nembhard, who was also his high school teammate at Monteverde Academy:
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) December 18, 2025
“It was no doubt that he was gonna find his way towards high-level basketball. He just did it a lot faster than we expected.”
(via @MikeACurtis2) pic.twitter.com/0C3QhdwFTk
But his feel for the game and his work ethic, there was no doubt he was going to find a way to high-level basketball. He just did it a lot faster I think than we expected.”
That’s the thing about players like Nembhard. They don’t always follow the conventional path.
He didn’t hear his name called on draft night, but he’s making teams around the league second-guess their evaluations. He’s not just surviving in the NBA - he’s thriving, and doing it on his own terms.
Cunningham, of course, is still the alpha in this matchup. His Pistons are rolling - winners of four straight and sitting at 21-5.
He’s the leader, the tone-setter, and the face of a team that’s finally starting to realize its potential. But there’s a sense of pride, too, seeing an old teammate carve out his own lane.
“I used to bust him up, man,” Cunningham said with a grin, reminiscing on their one-on-one battles. “It's crazy, the amount of work that we put in together, like how far we've come….
Now, we're about to play against each other. I'm excited.”
That excitement is shared by fans who’ve been watching Nembhard’s ascent and Cunningham’s continued evolution. Thursday night’s matchup isn’t just about two teams jockeying for position - it’s about the journey of two former teammates who took different routes to the league, now meeting again under the bright lights.
Dallas enters the game at 10-17, still trying to claw its way into the Play-In conversation. Detroit, meanwhile, is riding high and looking to keep the momentum going.
Tip-off is set for 8:30 p.m. ET, and while the marquee may read Cunningham vs.
Flagg, don’t be surprised if Nembhard steals a few scenes. He’s done it before - and he’s just getting started.