Indiana Pacers guard Andrew Nembhard was one of 11 rookies selected on Tuesday to compete in the 2023 NBA Rising Stars game at All-Star Weekend on Feb. 17 in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Nembhard, the 31st pick, is averaging 8.5 points, four assists, 2.9 rebounds and one steal on 42.8% shooting from the field in 45 games this season. He is currently the only qualified rookie who is averaging at least four assists and one steal per game.
He is also one of five rookies to register at least one 30-point game.
Along with Nembhard, the Pacers will also send Bennedict Mathurin to the annual showcase. He is a candidate for Rookie of the Year and Sixth Man of the Year after averaging 17.9 points, 4.2 rebounds and 1.4 assists. He leads all players with 843 points off the bench.
Pacers coach Rick Carlisle is happy for both players.
The team gave these guys a shoutout today as we began practice and we had both of them make a little speech. They were great. They both thanked their teammates. It is pretty cool. I think everyone knew Benn was going to be on it. We hoped that Andrew would be, too. The guy has started a whole bunch of games so it is well-deserved for both of those guys.
Nembhard did not play in the season opener, but was utilized in the very next game and has since played a large role with the team. He has started 34 times this season and is averaging 9.1 points, 4.4 assists, 3.2 rebounds and 1.2 steals in that role.
“It is a great honor just to be recognized as one of the young guys in the league that is doing well right now,” Nembhard said. “I was talking to somebody yesterday (saying), ‘It is a cool recognition but I want to do so much more in my career further than that.'”
"It was a dream of Andrew's since he was 5 or 6 to make the NBA. He really loves the game."
the 31st pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, from Aurora, Ontario and @ZagMBB, rookie guard Andrew Nembhard is a 2023 NBA Rising Star.đź’« pic.twitter.com/cu0BT4gwFe
— Indiana Pacers (@Pacers) January 31, 2023
He was the only second-round pick from the 2022 draft class selected for the event, which was voted on by assistant coaches across the league. In fact, of those rookies chosen, only Walker Kessler (22nd pick) and Nembhard were drafted outside of the top 20.
Carlisle has often said that he believes Nembhard will eventually go down as one of the 10 best rookies from this draft class based on his play thus far. Nembhard has played well beyond his years and is looking like the biggest steal of the second round.
“I know not a lot of second-round picks get (this) opportunity (for Rising Stars) but I’ve gotten a lot of opportunity here just to show what I can do,” Nembhard said. “I give all of the credit to the Pacers for just allowing me to show my game.”
The Pacers look to have one of the top up-and-coming rosters in the league. In addition to their two Rising Stars selections, the team also has Myles Turner, Buddy Hield, Tyrese Haliburton, Chris Duarte and several others in the mix.
Nembhard is looking forward to representing the team with Mathurin.
“That’ll be fun,” Nembhard said. “That’ll be fun just to hang out with my guy. We’re real close. To experience that together — it’s a real fun game — we’ll have a fun time.”
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