Newest Maverick has already proved his doubters wrong — and the reason is obvious

When the Dallas Mavericks signed Ryan Nembhard to a two-way deal immediately after the 2025 NBA Draft, his main critique was undoubtedly his size. Fans and media alike were concerned that Nembhard couldn't succeed at the NBA level, as he is only 6-foot, but he has already silenced the skeptics in just a few months.

While the regular season is still a month and a half away, Nembhard was incredible during NBA Summer League for Dallas, and his skill is what sets him apart.

For undersized guards to succeed in the NBA, they must often be one of the most skilled players on the floor at all times, and that was mostly true for Nembhard during his Summer League minutes in Las Vegas.

Ryan Nembhard's skill far outweighs his lack of height

He started his Mavericks tenure with a bang, as he finished with 21 points and five assists in a game against the Los Angeles Lakers on the opening night of Summer League. All eyes were on Dallas since it was Cooper Flagg's debut, but Nembhard stole the show with the entire basketball community watching.

While Flagg struggled, Nembhard was the steady hand that the Mavs needed to secure the win. He drilled a go-ahead 3-pointer off an assist from Flagg in the clutch to win the game, and all signs pointed to him being someone who can play real minutes in the NBA as soon as his rookie year.

While he struggled some with physicality when bigger defenders guarded him, he adapted to any situation that was thrown at him and showed that he can impact the game in a variety of ways.

His mid-range jumper was one of the most promising parts of his game over three performances, and his passing was stellar. Nembhard's ability to pick apart the defense with his passing is unheard of for an undrafted rookie, and his college stats will tell you all you need to know about the player that Dallas is getting.

Nembhard's 344 assists at Gonzaga last season were the fifth-most assists in a single season in NCAA history, and he made everyone around him better every single time that he stepped onto the floor. He almost always makes the right play, and it almost always ends in a bucket if his team has an advantage in transition.

Lob targets are in heaven when they play next to Nembhard, and Flagg found that out firsthand in Las Vegas. Flagg threw down a thunderous slam on the fast break coming off a lob from Nembhard, and Mavs fans should get used to this duo connecting for plenty of buckets for years to come.

Nembhard getting shut down after only three Summer League games proves that the Mavericks think highly of him, and he could end up earning a standard deal by the end of next season if he outperforms his two-way deal and becomes someone who Dallas relies upon consistently.

Time will tell how Nembhard fares against the rest of the NBA next season, but if Summer League proved anything, it's that his height won't hold him back and that he is one of the most overlooked rookies heading into the 2025-26 season. He is the ultimate competitor, and his skill and ability to control the game could turn him into an indispensable piece in Jason Kidd's rotation one day.