Some may tell you that Nembhard is an NBA ready point guard. Others may think that he is too small and unathletic to ever play in the NBA. A few may tell you that he will be a solid backup right away. I'm here to tell you that he can be a starting caliber point in several years. At the draft combine he seemed far too good for his competition. While there weren't any big time players scrimmaging, he surely put on a show. He is one of the best playmakers in the draft and has lots of leadership experience. Comparing him to a nineteen year old freshman would be like comparing a kitten to a full grown cat. A kitten may show ferocity, but isn't ready to make it on it's own until it gets bigger. Nembhard can pass like nobody's business, but may struggle against better competition. His lacking first step and incosistent shot creation make me question whether he can contribute right away. That is a tiny bit concerning since is on the older side of the spectrum. I see him a distributor, and not as a scorer.

NBA Comparison: Tyus Jones

Projected Draft Range: 45-Undrafted

Height 6'5 Weight 195 lbs Wingspan 6'6 DOB 1/16/00 (Draft Age: 22) Pre-Draft Team Gonzaga Bulldogs

Offense

• Facilitating point guard, great vision and a knack for making the right pass. Perfect fit in the Zaga system.

• Makes the right play when pressured.

• Very good finisher who takes the right shots.

• Not a true "bucket getter" by any means, but scores assertively with a well rounded bag of 3-level scoring.

• Fine unmemorable shooting mechanics, a competent perimeter shooter. Will need to increase his range and consistency at the next level. Career 77% FT shooter.

Defense

• Very good defender.

• Moves his feet well and stays engaged. Can turn it on when needed.

Swing Factors

Role

• LOW:

• HIGH:

Player analysis

Andrew Nembhard has had such a WEIRD meteoric rise in draft spaces that just feels so off to me. I like him as a player but he went from a late second round pick and flew up to a first rounder after his season ended without having great workouts or measurements. It seems as if teams have gone back to watch his film and the love for his playstyle has spread like wildfire, I can see why teams like him as a solid point guard but many are overrating his realistic ability. Nembhard is a quality guard and will be a solid point for a team that wants a nice bench player but he screams out painfully average which makes it hard for me to take him over all that upside, likely to go in the mid to late first round. He’s a good passer that doesn’t make too many mistakes, he has a great assist to turnover ratio and it's clear he can read the game extremely well. His ability to read the floor will give him a spot instantly in the league and I think his production at Gonzaga will translate very quickly because the offense didn’t run through him in college and won’t in the NBA. Andrew is a serviceable defender but isn't outstanding, he is small but is decently smart so he knows how to cover up that physical weakness. He has a nice feel for the game and plays with an experienced edge that a playoff team will value highly but personally I think there are many other players in the draft that can produce similarly during their rookie year while having a much higher ceiling. Andrew Nembhard is a solid player that I like but is most likely at his peak already, he can get slightly better at things like shooting and defense but overall his game is pretty solidified.

Projection

Draft range: [ 21 - 41 ]

Comp: [ TJ McConnell ]

Strengths: Playmaker and IQ Weaknesses: Athleticism

High Side Comp: Jalen Brunson/Brogdon Low Side Comp: Devonte Graham

Ideal Fit: Developmental Playmaking Guard

Draft Range: 21-51

Result: 31- IND

Athleticism: 5/10 Size: 3/5 Defense: 7/10 Strength: 3/5 Quickness: 6/10 Creation: 3/5 Jumpshot: 7/10 Finishing: 2/5 NBA Ready: 4/5 Ball Handling: 5/10 Passing: 8/10 Intangibles: 4/5 Potential: 7/10 TOTAL: 64= Mid First

Strengths:

• Very confident 3 point shooter, shot a solid percentage this year

• Some nice playmaking upside really sees the court well

• Throws some amazing cross court passes

• Can find great connections with rolling bigs and sharpshooting guards

• A solid height for a point guard

• Pesky defender

• A solid leader at the point

• Efficient free throw shooter

• One of the best pick and roll points in the draft

• Great court vision, always hits the open man and plays very unselfish

Flaws:

• He's old, born in 2000

• Just is what he is

• Isn't the greatest defender despite his best efforts

• Can take some ill advised shots

Steady passer, knows how to get the ball to his big men. Obviously helps that he was able to play with Holmgren and Timme at Gonzaga. On-ball defense is very solid (although a bit slow for a ball-handling guard), scoring from the mid-range is his primary deal.

Has to figure out how to be competitive at the rim. Gets scared against tall bigs.

Strengths/Weaknesses

• Very quick pace, lots of transition passing

• Good shooter, certainly can't be left open

• Seems to be confident in leading the charge

• Could be too hasty, leading to turnovers

• Hasn't shown much light as to his finishing abilities