Mavericks' hidden gem reignites Luka Doncic's magic at the perfect time

It is without question that Dallas Mavericks fans will never get over the Luka Doncic trade, but two-way player Ryan Nembhard is helping ease their pain as he has played a key role in revitalizing the Mavericks' offense. The undrafted rookie is never going to be an all-world offensive engine like Doncic, but he has definitely shown some flashes of the Slovenian star. Their playstyles aren't the same by any means, but their passing and playmaking are definitely similar.

Nembhard's playmaking skills have elevated the team to new heights, as he is already making advanced reads in the pick-and-roll in transition despite being just 22 years old. Nembhard and Cooper Flagg have fans excited for the future, as they have shown they could be the next up-and-coming duo due to their abilities to control the game, play smart, and play off one another.

In the Mavs' most recent game, the rookie duo demonstrated their ability to lead Dallas to a win against one of the better teams in the Eastern Conference. Flagg was the team's leading scorer on Wednesday against the Miami Heat, as he had 18 points and shot 69.2 percent overall. However, it was Nembhard's performance that stole the show. The undrafted rookie finished the game with a double-double, dropping 15 points and 13 assists.

Ryan Nembhard may be Dallas' best playmaker since Luka Doncic

It was the second game in a row that Nembhard had a double-double. He had his best game of the season on Monday night in a win against the Denver Nuggets, scoring a career-high 28 points and dishing out 10 assists. His high-level production is something Dallas has been searching for, as he gives fans flashbacks of former foundational player Luka Doncic with his ability to pass the rock, someone fans deeply adored. Nembhard would rather get one of his teammates an open shot instead of forcing a shot himself, and this is a trait that fans will never forget about Doncic.

He could score on anyone in the league when he wanted to, but his ability to pick apart the defense with his passing and run the offense was what really stood out.

One of the Mavs' biggest issues at the beginning of the season was their ability to find a playmaker to help elevate the offense. The team struggled to find someone to lead the way, as they started the season with a 3-7 record. Dallas went through multiple point guards, with players like Flagg and D'Angelo Russell struggling to lead the team's offense.

Brandon Williams even started a couple of games, hoping to ease Dallas' point guard woes. He did a fair job carrying the load, but the problem is that Williams is more of a score-first player who isn't known for making his teammates better and orchestrating an offense.

This is where Nembhard comes into play, as he is the team's best playmaker since Luka Doncic. The two-way guard has done a great job scoring the ball and making his teammates around him better. For example, against the Heat, Nembhard showcased his shooting skills, knocking down two 3-pointers within 24 seconds.

Not to mention, Nembhard also had two key assists during the second quarter. He dished out an open opportunity to Naji Marshall midway in the quarter that cut the Heat's lead to three, before finding Flagg to bring Dallas within a point. His final assist of the night came on an open layup to Marshall to help put things away.

Nembhard's 13 assists against Miami were the second most by a Mav since Doncic. This speaks volumes to his work ethic and ability to feed those around him. Nembhard can create opportunities to spread the offense and score on defenders in a variety of ways.

This echoes Doncic's playmaking, as the former Mav could do a variety of things that elevated the team's offense to new heights. He was an all-around guard who put defenders on skates and moved the ball with ease. On the contrary, Nembhard, too, has shown the moves Doncic portrayed, as he has been an offensive machine despite usually being known as just a floor general.

Just look at the ball handling above, as Nembhard isn't afraid to make things difficult for defenders and attack them head-on. This is similar to Doncic, as he, too, drew fear in his opponents. So, Nembhard's recent performances showcase his talent and skills. He is clearly an NBA-ready guard and someone the team must sign to a standard contract as soon as they can.

Nembhard may never be an MVP-caliber player like Doncic, but the similarities in the way that they pass the ball are evident. He excels in the pick-and-roll, always makes the right play, and fires skip passes with ease. These are all things that helped make Doncic one of the most beloved Mavericks of all time.

Nembhard is just getting started on his NBA journey, but if his recent performances have shown anything, it's that he's already one of the best playmakers and passers that this team has had in the modern era of Mavericks basketball.