Nolan Hickman and Ryan Nembhard, the starting backcourt duo for 69 games together in the past two seasons with the Zags, will continue being teammates but on the professional level. This time, alongside the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, Cooper Flagg, and with the Dallas Mavericks in the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas.
Hickman didn’t have any reported workouts leading up to the draft. He will be looking to receive a training camp invite from the Dallas organization.
In 105 starts through 139 games played with Gonzaga, the true shooting guard from Seattle averaged 9.5 points, 2.4 assists, 2.2 rebounds, and 0.9 steals per game throughout his four-year career in Spokane. In his senior campaign, Hickman shot a career-high in all categories: 47.8 field goal percentage, 44.5 three-point percentage, and 93.1 free throw percentage.
As for Nembhard, he went undrafted in the 2025 NBA Draft but was quickly signed to a two-way contract by Dallas general manager Nico Harrison. The college basketball leader in assists in 2024-25 (344 total) will wear No. 9 with the Mavericks and the G-League’s Texas Legends.
The NBA 2K26 Las Vegas Summer League officially starts on July 10th when Dallas opens up against the Los Angeles Lakers at 5 p.m. PT on ESPN at UNLV’s Thomas & Mack Center. As for the other Zags in the showcase, Ben Gregg will be playing with the Boston Celtics, and Khalif Battle with the Phoenix Suns. Most likely, Anton Watson will be with the New York Knicks.
Arden Cravalho is a Gonzaga University graduate from the Bay Area… Follow him on Twitter @a_cravalho
