Jason Kidd is wrecking Mavericks standout guard's crucial dress rehearsal

The Dallas Mavericks made a savvy and widely praised move just over a week ago by signing rookie standout Ryan Nembhard to a standard contract.

The deal was well deserved, as Nembhard had exceeded expectations after going undrafted, averaging 6.7 points and 4.9 assists per game through February. Yet despite those numbers and his new contract, Nembhard’s role has surprisingly decreased in March.

Ryan Nembhard’s shrinking role raises questions for Dallas

Since signing his new contract, Jason Kidd has played his lone true floor general less and less. Nembhard logged 24 minutes in a loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder on March 1, but has since played just 21, 14, four, and five minutes. In total, Nembhard is averaging only 13.8 minutes per game in March.

An average of 13.8 minutes per game would be his second-lowest mark in any month this season, ahead of only a three-game October. While it’s ironic that the Gonzaga product is playing less after earning a standard contract, it’s also concerning. This final stretch of the season is supposed to be his dress rehearsal.

Nembhard ultimately played well enough to earn a standard contract after being converted from a two-way deal. The move was necessary, as the 5-foot-11 playmaker had become one of Dallas’ only true ball handlers. Yet there’s a catch: the two-year contract includes a team option for the 2026–27 season. In other words, it’s not even guaranteed that Nembhard will be in Dallas beyond this year.

The Mavericks still need answers at point guard

Because of that, Nembhard’s final 18 games are critical. Not just for him, but for the Mavericks as well. Dallas needs to determine whether the breakout guard is truly a piece of its future. He’s only 23 years old, so he fits the timeline…but is he valuable enough to keep around?

It may look that way now, but if his playing time continues to decline, Mavericks fans, and even the front office, could start rethinking Nembhard’s place on the roster.

Over the last two games, Kidd has inserted Nembhard only in the final minutes of blowouts. That usage makes him seem expendable. It’s a stark contrast to earlier in the season, when he started 16 games from late November through early January.

For what it’s worth, during Nembhard’s two highest-usage months (December and January), Dallas posted its best winning percentages and net ratings of the season. Other factors played a role, of course, as December was also Anthony Davis’ only healthy month as a Maverick. Still, Nembhard contributed to that success nonetheless.

While winning games down the stretch may not be a priority, improving draft position is. Still, Dallas needs to determine which players best fit alongside its building block, Cooper Flagg, long-term. If Kidd isn’t willing to give Nembhard an extended look next to Flagg before the offseason, it could prove to be a missed opportunity if the Mavericks later feel they didn’t see enough to justify picking up his team option.