Andrew Nembhard Bio
Andrew William Nembhard is a Canadian professional basketball player who plays for the Indiana Pacers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Born on January 16, 2000, in Aurora, Ontario, Nembhard developed into one of college basketball’s most respected point guards during his time with the Florida Gators and the Gonzaga Bulldogs. He was selected by the Pacers with the 31st overall pick in the second round of the 2022 NBA draft.
Standing 193 cm and weighing 87 kg, Nembhard has quickly become a key contributor for the Pacers with his court vision, mature decision-making, and steady perimeter shooting. Beyond the NBA, he has represented Canada at multiple FIBA youth levels and on the senior national team.
Early Life and Background
Andrew William Nembhard was born on January 16, 2000, in Aurora, Ontario, Canada. He grew up in a basketball family with Jamaican roots through his father, Claude. His younger brother, Ryan Nembhard, has also pursued basketball at a high level.
Nembhard attended Vaughan Secondary School in Vaughan, Ontario, before transferring to Montverde Academy in Montverde, Florida, a program known for producing top-tier basketball talent. His time at Montverde sharpened his fundamentals and exposed him to national recruiting attention. He was recruited to the University of Florida directly out of Montverde Academy.
Path to Basketball
At Montverde Academy, Nembhard emerged as a highly regarded point guard prospect, helping him earn a scholarship with the Florida Gators. His reputation as a pass-first floor general with poise well beyond his age quickly translated to the college game. In his freshman season, he started every contest for Florida and posted the fourth-highest freshman assist total in program history.
Nembhard averaged 8.0 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 5.4 assists as a freshman and finished fifth in the Southeastern Conference in assist-to-turnover ratio. He earned SEC All-Freshman Team honors in 2019 and delivered a buzzer-beating upset of LSU in the 2019 SEC tournament. After testing the NBA draft waters in 2019 and again in 2020, he ultimately entered the NCAA transfer portal and committed to Gonzaga in June 2020, choosing the Bulldogs over offers from Duke, USC, Memphis, Georgetown, and Stanford.
Andrew Nembhard Career
Early Career (2019–2021)
Nembhard began his college career with the Florida Gators, starting every game during his freshman season and establishing himself as a reliable lead guard. As a sophomore, he averaged 11.2 points, 5.6 assists, and 3.0 rebounds per game, leading the SEC with a 2.2 assist-to-turnover ratio. His play drew the attention of NBA scouts, but he opted to transfer rather than declare professionally.
After sitting out briefly, he was granted immediate eligibility at Gonzaga. In his first season with the Bulldogs, Nembhard primarily came off the bench yet still averaged 9.2 points, 2.4 rebounds, and 4.4 assists per game for a squad that entered the West Coast Conference tournament unbeaten. He was named the WCC’s inaugural Sixth Man of the Year and earned second-team All-WCC honors.
Gonzaga Senior Season (2021–2022)
In his senior campaign, Nembhard elevated his production to 11.8 points, 5.8 assists, 3.4 rebounds, and 1.6 steals per game. He was a First Team All-WCC selection and was named the Most Outstanding Player of the WCC tournament in 2022. His leadership helped Gonzaga remain among the nation’s top programs.
On April 21, 2022, Nembhard declared for the 2022 NBA draft, forgoing his remaining college eligibility. He had already established himself as one of the most experienced and polished guards in his class.
Indiana Pacers Era (2022–Present)
Nembhard was selected with the 31st overall pick by the Indiana Pacers and joined the team’s 2022 NBA Summer League roster. In his Summer League debut, he recorded five points, five rebounds, and five assists in a win over the Charlotte Hornets. On July 22, 2022, he signed a four-year, $8.6 million rookie contract, the largest rookie contract ever given to a second-round pick at the time.
As a rookie, Nembhard delivered one of the season’s signature moments on November 28, 2022, when he hit a buzzer-beating three-pointer to lift the Pacers to a 116–115 win over the Los Angeles Lakers. On December 5, 2022, he tallied a career-high 31 points, 13 assists, 8 rebounds, and 5 three-pointers in a win over the Golden State Warriors while filling in for the injured Tyrese Haliburton. On January 31, 2023, he was named a 2023 NBA Rising Star alongside teammate Bennedict Mathurin.
Nembhard’s second season saw him string together several standout performances, including 24 points against the Milwaukee Bucks on March 16, 2023, 22 points against the Philadelphia 76ers on March 18, 2023, and a 25-point, 10-assist double-double against the Toronto Raptors on March 22, 2023. On March 28, 2023, he recorded 15 points and a career-high 15 assists against the Milwaukee Bucks. In the 2024 playoffs, Nembhard buried a game-winning three-pointer with 16 seconds left against the New York Knicks on May 10, 2024, helping the Pacers take a 2–1 series lead.
Driving Style and Strengths
Nembhard plays a poised, pass-first style of point guard basketball, excelling at running pick-and-roll sets and delivering precise passes in traffic. He reads defenses with patience, protects the ball, and uses his 193 cm frame to see over smaller guards. His ability to stretch defenses with consistent three-point shooting has made him a dependable secondary scorer.
Notable Events and Milestones
Nembhard’s most iconic moments so far include his buzzer-beater against the Lakers, his 31-point performance against the Warriors, his NBA Rising Star selection in 2023, and his game-winning playoff three against the Knicks in 2024. His record-setting rookie contract also stands as a milestone for second-round draft picks.
Andrew Nembhard Career Wins
Andrew Nembhard has compiled an impressive résumé of team and individual successes from his college years through the NBA. His Gonzaga teams were perennial national contenders, and he has helped the Pacers reach the playoffs while authoring several game-winning plays.
NBA Highlights
Nembhard’s first NBA win came during Summer League action in 2022, and he soon notched his first regular-season game-winner against the Los Angeles Lakers in November 2022. He added wins over playoff-caliber opponents like the Milwaukee Bucks, Philadelphia 76ers, and Toronto Raptors, and he helped the Pacers push deep into the 2024 playoffs, highlighted by his late game-winning three against the New York Knicks.
Other Wins and Performances
In college, Nembhard helped Florida upset LSU in the 2019 SEC tournament and contributed to Gonzaga’s sustained winning streaks, including a campaign that entered the WCC tournament unbeaten. He also represented Canada at the 2019 FIBA World Cup and the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, adding international experience to his growing résumé.
Andrew Nembhard Family
Family Background and Basketball Lineage
Nembhard is of Jamaican descent through his father, Claude. The family raised Andrew in Aurora, Ontario, and supported his early basketball development. His younger brother, Ryan Nembhard, also played basketball at Gonzaga and has signed a two-way contract with the Dallas Mavericks, continuing the family’s basketball tradition.
Personal Life
Andrew Nembhard keeps much of his personal life private and focuses publicly on his career with the Indiana Pacers. His brother Ryan remains a close family tie within the professional basketball world, and the two share a reputation for high basketball intelligence and competitive drive.
2025 Season Performance
Entering the 2025 season, Andrew Nembhard is expected to remain a central figure in the Indiana Pacers’ rotation, building on the momentum of his 2024 playoff heroics. His growth as a secondary playmaker alongside Tyrese Haliburton gives Indiana one of the league’s more balanced backcourts.
Nembhard’s 2024 postseason showing, including his game-winning three against the New York Knicks, underscored his ability to perform under pressure. That performance established him as a player the Pacers can trust in clutch moments and a key piece of their long-term plans.
Throughout the 2025 season, Nembhard will look to expand his scoring role, sharpen his three-point efficiency, and contribute to a Pacers team with legitimate playoff aspirations. With his contract running through 2026, his continued development will be central to Indiana’s near-term success.