Two Undrafted Guards Are Keeping the Mavericks Afloat
Dallas, Texas — The current NBA Cup knockout round week may have the spotlight, but there are plenty of compelling stories unfolding beyond the in-season tournament buzz. One standout thread involves the Dallas Mavericks, who looked headed for a disappointing 2025-26 campaign after a rough 5-15 start, especially with their former franchise star lighting up the league elsewhere. In the last stretch of games, though, Dallas has responded with four wins in their past five, climbing to within a half game of the Western Conference’s tenth seed.
A key shift coincides with Anthony Davis rejoining the lineup, yet the turnaround isn’t fueled by a single savior. Instead, two undrafted guards have emerged as the season’s quiet game-changers, turning what many pundits (including myself) viewed as a weakness into a source of genuine strength.
Ryan Nembhard
With Kyrie Irving sidelined for most or all of the season while recovering from a torn ACL, Dallas faced a significant leadership gap at the point guard position. To address this, the Mavericks signed veteran guard D’Angelo Russell. But the former star’s
best days appear behind him, and Dallas’ offense dipped to troubling depths when he played, ranking in the 19th percentile in offensive efficiency (per Cleaning the Glass). Overall, Dallas sat dead last in offensive rating, trailing teams that are actively trying to lose games.
Enter Ryan Nembhard. In the six games since he was inserted into the starting lineup, the 22-year-old rookie has delivered a sustained spark, averaging about 15 points and 7 assists per game on highly efficient shooting. His performances have propelled Dallas into a higher offensive gear, and NBA.com’s rookie ladder has begun to take notice of his rapid ascent.
This newfound surge isn’t a guarantee that Nembhard will become a star, but it does demonstrate solid point-guard fundamentals: strong decision-making, smart floor reading, and the ability to distribute when teammates are open. There’s also a notable stylistic link to his older brother, Andrew Nembhard, whose playmaking and driving ability have become a recognizable trait among Gonzaga alumni. Clips of Ryan’s recent 28-point outing against the Denver Nuggets hint at potential ceiling, inviting comparisons and speculation about what’s possible with more seasoning.
Beyond production, Nembhard has shown elite-level ball security. Over this six-game window, he has 41 assists and just eight turnovers, underscoring his ability to navigate the floor with purpose. His season-long assist-to-usage ratio sits in the 90th percentile, highlighting his efficient use of playmaking opportunities.
Brandon Williams
While the spotlight often focuses on Nembhard, Brandon Williams has also stood out in shaper, less flashy ways. His raw stat line may not jump off the page (notably a lower true shooting percentage and efficiency), but his on-court impact is undeniable. Williams plays with burst and fluidity, slipping by defenders without heavy reliance on screens. This enables him to attack downhill at a high rate (a top-tier percentile in rim attempts per 75 possessions).
Efficiency at the rim has been a mixed bag for Williams, but much of that stems from the surrounding injury-plagued lineup and congested driving lanes. When Davis is on the floor, Williams converts at a respectable 62.5% around the rim; without Davis, that figure drops to 52.4%. This dynamic illustrates how much Williams benefits from teammates creating space and how reliant he is on the team’s overall spacing and pace.
The bigger picture is that Williams’ ability to penetrate creates offensive value even if his finishing isn’t elite. His presence on the court correlates with a meaningful lift in Dallas’ offensive profile, raising their production from a struggling 19th percentile to a more respectable level in on-court/off-court analyses. He also contributes on the other end, possessing quick hands and feet that translate into a solid takeaway rate, a welcome attribute for a team that has struggled with stopping opponents.
Putting it together
To be clear, neither Nembhard nor Williams should be seen as plug-and-play, high-end starting guards based solely on this recent run. Size and outside shooting remain credible gaps in their profiles. Yet both players translate into NBA-caliber rotation pieces, a meaningful win for Dallas given that they acquired them without using draft capital. If their development continues, they could help Dallas mount a playoff push later this season.
Contemporary takeaways and questions for discussion
- Are Nembhard’s early gains sustainable, or will defenses learn to close gaps and force tougher decisions as competitors study more tape? And what level of shooting improvement would push him into a true starter tier?
- Can Williams maintain his downhill advantage and refine finishing to maximize the efficiency he already creates with his drives?
- With Irving out and Russell’s decline in effectiveness, might Dallas lean more into a guard-by-committee approach? Could this trio of Nembhard, Williams, and a re-energized supporting cast form a viable playoff core?
As Dallas navigates the season, these two undrafted guards have shifted the narrative from potential disappointment to a genuine, competitive arc. Their growth could redefine the Mavericks’ ceiling in 2025-26, and perhaps set the stage for even bigger opportunities in the years ahead.
