Jason Kidd can't hide his growing trust in the Mavericks' breakout rookie

Dallas Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd is all about Ryan Nembhard, and his role as the team's starting point guard over the last month reflects just that. Kidd was high on Nembhard before the season even began, and this trust has only increased as the season progresses.

Nembhard began the season as a bench player over the first few games, but before long, he was out of the rotation. Kidd's early belief in him seemed to fizzle away at the end of October, as he favored Brandon Williams and D'Angelo Russell as the team's primary point guards.

Mavericks fans' dream of Nembhard playing a real role right away seemed to slip away before he even got the chance, but he went on a tear as soon as he returned to the lineup from a left knee sprain. Kidd made him the team's starting point guard in just his second game in over two weeks at the end of November, and he hasn't looked back since.

Why Jason Kidd trusts Ryan Nembhard so much

Kidd spoke about his belief in Nembhard before Tuesday night's game against the Denver Nuggets, and it's clear to see why he continues to roll with him in the starting unit.

"He knows how to get guys the ball," Kidd said when asked about Nembhard. "There’s a trust, being able to execute and you can see that the relationship that he has with Cooper is at a high, and so they both want each other to be successful. When you have that trust, and he understands how to play the game. He’s a basketball player, and guys like playing with him so that’s why he’s out there starting with that group."

Nembhard has started in the last 12 games, and regardless of the early growing pains, Kidd is sticking with him. He finished with 11 points and seven assists in Dallas' crucial win over the Nuggets on Tuesday night, and he continues to show why Kidd trusts him so much.

His mid-range jumper was falling, and he was making the right read every time down the floor. His seven assists to one turnover were also pivotal, as the Mavericks were a +24 in his minutes.

He and Cooper Flagg's chemistry continues to grow, as he found him for multiple buckets inside as well as a wing three in the first half. They are turning into a dangerous rookie duo, and Anthony Davis has also benefited significantly from playing alongside Nembhard.

Nembhard is one of the few guards on the team who can operate out of the pick-and-roll and feed Davis around the bucket at optimal times. His ability to look off the defense and find Davis for open jumpers is also excellent, and the 14th-year big man obviously likes to play with him.

And so does everyone else.

As Kidd said before the game, guys love playing with him. His pass-first playstyle is rare to find in today's NBA, and he'd rather set up one of his teammates for a dunk than hunt his own shot. He is the definition of a floor general, and this is the exact type of player that the Mavs need to run their first unit.

Dallas has tons of great play finishers, and having someone like Nembhard share the floor with them makes the game significantly easier. He knows how to manipulate the defense with his eyes to create open looks for others, and he is already the best passer on the team less than 20 games into his career.

It's obvious why Kidd likes Nembhard and his game, and he is poised to grow even more as the season goes on. The Mavericks are already set to convert his two-way deal to a standard contract later this season, and Kidd could have his point guard of the future sitting right in front of him if he keeps this up.