Why Gonzaga’s Ryan Nembhard Deserves a Spot in the 2025 NBA Draft

Ryan Nembhard wasn’t supposed to be in this conversation. After four years of college basketball and one of the best two-year stretches by a point guard in Gonzaga — and arguably college basketball — history, he entered the 2025 NBA Draft cycle as a likely undrafted prospect: undersized, overlooked, and left off most boards. But over the past month, he’s played his way firmly into the mix. With several other pure point guards opting to return to school for the 2025–26 season, there’s now a clear path for Nembhard to carve out a role on an NBA roster.

He’s shown, again and again, that size has never stopped him. Expectations haven’t either. Every time the bar moves, he clears it.

The Steady Hand Behind an Elite Offense

Nembhard ran one of the most efficient offenses in the country during his two years at Gonzaga. He averaged more than 35 minutes per game and improved in nearly every major statistical category year over year. By the end of his senior season, he had established himself as one of the most consistent and effective floor generals in college basketball — and perhaps the best Gonzaga has ever had.

Somehow, he’s still far from a draft-night guarantee. His size and perceived defensive limitations continue to raise questions for some teams. But those concerns overlook the larger picture: Nembhard has proven he can lead, execute, and evolve. He doesn’t need projection. The tape and the numbers already show what he is.

And what he is — is a professional point guard.

A Résumé Built on Production

In two years at Gonzaga, Nembhard played over 2,000 minutes and recorded 587 assists, the fifth-most in program history despite playing only 72 games.

As a senior, he led the nation with 9.8 assists per game and 344 total — the fifth-highest single-season assist mark in NCAA history — while maintaining a 4.86 assist-to-turnover ratio.

He shot 44.6% from the field and 40.4% from three — both career highs — while playing over 35 minutes per game.

Against top-tier defenses, he delivered: 19 points and 10 assists against San Diego State, 16 assists vs. USF, and 11 assists in the NCAA Tournament against Houston — arguably the best defensive team in the country.

He ran one of the fastest, most complex offenses in college basketball, and he got better in every major category each season.

He Crushed the Combine — and Kept Rising

What more could Ryan Nembhard possibly do to convince NBA teams that hesitations about his size or ceiling are overthinking it? The dude showed up to a draft combine he wasn’t even invited to — and dominated.

At the NBA G League Elite Camp, he played his way into one of only five NBA Combine call-ups. Then he backed it up. Across two days of shooting drills:

73% overall shooting — tied for third among all players

Three-point star drill: 19-for-25 (76%) — best in the field

Off-the-dribble shooting: 24-for-30 (80%)

Spot-up shooting: 15-for-25 (60%)

Side shooting: 15-for-21 (71%)

Free throws: 8-for-10 (80%)

In five-on-five scrimmages, he put up 13 points, 8 assists, 3 steals, and 1 turnover in Game 1, then followed it with 6 points (2-for-3 from deep), 5 assists, 3 rebounds, and a steal in just 15 minutes in Game 2.

Since the Combine, Nembhard has worked out for the Warriors, Raptors, and Cavaliers — all franchises with developmental track records. He’s also been linked to the Hawks, Bucks, and Grizzlies, all of whom hold late second-round picks.

The Draft Boards Are Catching Up

Nembhard has slowly worked his way into the draft conversation. Yahoo Sports projects him as high as No. 47 to Milwaukee, noting his growth as a scorer and pick-and-roll creator. Bleacher Report recently bumped him ten spots to No. 48 and highlighted his assist-to-turnover efficiency as a key differentiator. CBS Sports has him at No. 59 — the final pick in the draft — and ESPN now ranks him No. 62 overall, just outside the top 59.

He’s completed pre-draft workouts with multiple teams, and with several high-profile guards returning to college, the second round has opened up. There’s now a real lane for a system-ready point guard with elite feel, NBA range, and the ability to run a professional offense without having to “figure it out” at the next level. That’s exactly where Nembhard fits.

What’s Holding Teams Back

It’s mostly about size. Nembhard measured six feet tall without shoes and doesn’t project as a switchable defender or vertical athlete. He’s not built to overwhelm anyone physically. But he’s far from alone. Chris Paul, Fred VanVleet, Jose Alvarado, and Mike Conley are all the same height — and all have carved out long, productive careers built on control, vision, and spacing.

The hesitation has never been about skill. It’s the assumption that his physical tools cap his ceiling. That no matter how polished or efficient he is, there’s a hard limit on how much impact a guard of his size can make.

But if the past two months have shown anything, it’s that Nembhard isn’t near that limit yet. He keeps improving. He keeps adapting. And in every new environment — from Spokane to Chicago — he raises his level and outpaces expectations.

That Argument Doesn’t Hold Anymore

Yes, Ryan Nembhard is six feet tall. He doesn’t have a plus wingspan. He’s not going to win vertical contests. But here’s what he is: a fully formed point guard who sees the floor before it opens up. A 40% shooter from three. A four-year, 35-minute-per-game starter with one of the best assist seasons in NCAA history.

Nembhard didn’t coast through college — he climbed. And by the time his senior season ended, he was leading the country in assists, shooting career-best percentages, and turning in his best performances against elite competition.

If teams are still unsure how that scales, they can turn on the tape of Andrew Nembhard — a second-round pick now starting in the NBA Finals and guarding All-Stars. He came into the league with similar question marks and became one of the best defensive guards in the East. Ryan doesn’t need to be a clone — but the blueprint is clear: get in, earn trust, evolve.

Draft Him. He’s Ready.

Ryan Nembhard has answered every question that should matter. He produced at the highest level of college basketball. He got better every year. And in a pre-draft process designed to highlight flaws, he’s only strengthened his case as a shooter, a playmaker, and a lead guard.

If teams are still hesitating, it’s not because of what Nembhard lacks. It’s because they’re chasing something else. But the league doesn’t need more speculative upside. It needs players who understand how to run an offense, elevate a unit, and keep developing.

That’s what Gonzaga builds. Drew Timme spent most of the year in the G League, then signed with Brooklyn and averaged 12 points and 7.2 rebounds across nine games — finishing the season as a legitimate NBA contributor. That’s the model: develop, adapt, produce. Nembhard fits it.

Gonzaga players know how to walk into a locker room, absorb a system, and make their teammates better. That’s what you get with Ryan Nembhard: someone who sees the game early, plays it with clarity, and keeps sharpening the edges.

Draft Ryan Nembhard. He’s not waiting to prove he belongs.