PHOENIX — Indiana Pacers guard Andrew Nembhard is currently in the middle of a tough playoff series against the Oklahoma City Thunder. While Andrew aims to bring his team its first championship, his younger brother Ryan is working hard to enter the NBA. Ryan recently finished his senior season at Gonzaga and is part of the 2025 NBA draft class. He has started his journey by scheduling a pre-draft workout with the Phoenix Suns.
Ryan spoke to The Arizona Republic’s Duane Rankin about his busy schedule of 15 workouts with NBA teams. He also shared how he handles the pressure ahead of these important chances.
“Just be you,” Ryan said about the workouts. “People like you because of what you’ve shown your whole career. That won’t change now because you’re in this situation. My feel for the game and my impact come from being able to make winning plays for a team.”
In his senior year, Ryan averaged 10.5 points and 9.8 assists per game, shooting 40.4% from three-point range. Throughout his time at Gonzaga, he was a consistent starter and a key leader. He scored in double digits each season and improved his assist numbers every year.
The Suns are in urgent need of a playmaker. The team has struggled to find a steady point guard to run their offense. Ryan’s experience in high-pressure games like March Madness could help him succeed in the NBA.
Ryan has been compared to last year’s Suns guard Tyus Jones because of his playmaking skills. Phoenix currently holds the 29th and 52nd picks in the 2025 draft. Ryan is expected to go late in the second round, just like his brother Andrew. If he follows Andrew’s path, Ryan could prove the doubters wrong and thrive at the professional level.
