The Mavericks finally have a true point guard after trading Luka Doncic

DALLAS — The Dallas Mavericks shocked the NBA world trades Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers one season ago. At 6’8″, Doncic may not have been a traditional point guard — but he was a point guard nonetheless. Since moving on from the superstar, Dallas has struggled to find an answer at the position, but it looks like Ryan Nembhardt could be the answer.

Kyrie Irving had a point for about a month after the trade before going down with an ACL injury. Irving is still recovering from ACL surgery and isn’t expected to return until early 2026. The Mavs have since tried a variety of solutions at the position — including the questionable decision to have power forward Cooper Flagg lead the way — but now Nembhard is getting his chance.

In a 118-108 win over the Miami Heat on Wednesday, the 22-year-old posted a double-double with 15 points and 13 assists. The 5’11” floor general takes control of the offense. The box score doesn’t quite show his full impact as he often makes the extra pass, looks for the open man and makes the right decision on the floor.

He asked Ryan Nembhard, who had a double-double with 15 points and 13 assists, about his confidence level and how proud he is of finding an open teammate. pic.twitter.com/POVVK86NH1

— Joey Mistretta (@JoeyMistretta_) December 4, 2025

“Very high, always,” Nembhard he told reporters after the game in relation to where his confidence level is at the moment. “I feel like I’ve put in the work. When you do that, you can be confident in your work … I’m really confident.”

Ryan Nembhard can learn from the Mavs’ Hall of Fame point guard coach

It should be imagined Jason Kidd — who is a Hall of Fame point guard himself — loves Nembhardt’s game. Kidd was an exceptional passer, and while comparing the 22-year-old undrafted rookie to a Hall of Famer isn’t fair, Nembhardt’s passing ability is impressive without a doubt.

“A lot of it,” Kidd said of what a true point guard like Nembhard does for the offense. “… Being able to play at that level, playing for his teammates and for himself. Both his teammates and coaching staff trust him when he’s on the floor, and it shows.”

Nembhard looks like the real deal. He went undrafted in the 2025 NBA draft and later signed a two-way contract with the Mavs — a deal that looks like a big win at this point. If Nembhardt continues to show impressive power at the point guard position, one has to imagine that Dallas will offer him a standard NBA contract.

Nembhard and the Mavericks will try to win their fourth straight on Friday against the Thunder in Oklahoma City.