Ryan Nembhard has spent his summer in two different jerseys, and both stops have pointed toward the same thing: a bigger role in Dallas.
The Mavericks guard opened the offseason by working with the Canadian national team ahead of World Cup qualifying, sharing the floor with NBA names like two-time defending MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Dillon Brooks, Nickeil, and his older brother, Andrew Nembhard. Canada beat Puerto Rico and Jamaica, and Nembhard came away from that run talking about the value of the work.
"Training camp was great," Ryan Nembhard said. "We had great guys that came, Shai, Nickeil, my brother, all those guys. It was good to get out there and compete with those guys and try and grow for what we want to accomplish in the next couple years."
Now he’s back in Mavericks colors at Summer League in Las Vegas, where his first game made it clear why Dallas has reason to be encouraged. In a loss to the Golden State Warriors, Nembhard delivered 15 points and 11 assists, showing the kind of control and poise that made him one of the biggest surprises for the Mavericks in the 2025-26 season.
He said the biggest difference is the comfort that comes with another year under his belt.
"It’s just a level of comfort coming back in the second year," Nembhard said about what he liked most in his performance. "I’m more comfortable with my game.
I understand the NBA style a little more. I’m excited to get back out here."
Dallas rookie Morez Johnson Jr. led the way in that opener with 27 points, and the Mavericks’ next Summer League game is July 11 at 9 p.m. CT against the Los Angeles Lakers.
For Nembhard, the summer work has been as much about tightening the rough edges as it has been about showing what he already does well. As an undersized guard, he knows the defensive questions that can come with that profile, and he’s leaning into that challenge.
"Continue to be a pest on defense," he said. "Get better defensively.
They definitely wanted me to come here and play some games [with the Mavs]. It was a good first one to get under my belt."
Last season, Nembhard played in 60 games and averaged 6.6 points and 5.3 assists, the highest assist average among all rookies. He also shot 35 percent from 3-point range, and he’s making it clear that he wants the next step to come on the perimeter.
"And I’m trying to shoot the ball better, be a little more aggressive with my shot, take the shots that are available," said Nembhard, who shot a sturdy 35 percent from 3-point range last season. "Get the threes and hopefully that opens up the rest of my game. Just trying to get better at everything."
That kind of self-awareness is part of why Dallas sees value in him beyond the box score. Summer League coach Joe Boylan said Nembhard arrived ready to go and gave the Mavericks exactly what they needed in the opener.
"Ryan is such a luxury in this setting," Summer League coach Joe Boylan said. " ...
He came in game-ready. And I played him a lot of minutes [against Golden State] because of it.
He’s such a calming force out there. Defensively, his ability to pressure the ball, his pass-first mentality but also his ability to score.
I thought he was excellent."
Nembhard was converted from a two-way contract to a standard deal, and with Kyrie Irving set to return to the starting lineup after missing an entire season, the path behind him is up for grabs. Nembhard will compete with newly-acquired guard Marcus Sasser and Euro rookie Sergio De Larrea for backup ball-handling duties.
After a summer that’s already included national-team work, NBA-level competition, and a strong showing in Las Vegas, Nembhard looks like a player pushing hard for that opportunity.
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