The Indiana Pacers have locked up their rising combo guard. Andrew Nembhard for the long term with a new contract extension. According to ESPN’s Adran Wojnarowski, Nembhard signed a three-year contract extension worth $59 million with the Pacers today. The $59 million extension was the maximum amount of money Nembhard could have signed for at this point in his career. Nembhard’s new deal will keep him under contract in Indiana through the 2027-28 season. The Pacers will decline Nembhard’s $2.2 million team option in 2025-26, letting his new deal begin next year.
Indiana Pacers guard Andrew Nembhard has agreed on a three-year, $59 million contract extension, Todd Ramasar and Jaafar Choufani of @LifeSportsAgncy tell ESPN. Deal is maximum allowable over that term for one of the breakout players of the 2024 NBA playoffs. pic.twitter.com/N4dKUEX4YN
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 24, 2024
Pacers Extend Olympic Combo Guard
Breakout Season
After being selected 31st overall in the 2022 draft, Nembhard has become a vital part of the Pacers’ rotation. Plus, he is one of the organization’s best development stories in recent seasons. Nembhards is coming off a breakout postseason run where he averaged 14.9 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 5.5 assists. He shot the ball lights out, knocking down 56% of his field goal attempts and 48% of his threes on three-and-a-half attempts per game. Nembhard took over the last two games of the Boston series with Tyrese Haliburton hurt, averaging 28 points and 9.5 assists. Nembhard is the fourth player in NBA history to shoot 55% from the floor and 45% from three for a whole postseason.
National Team Leap
Nembhard is playing with the Olympic Canadian National Team this summer in Pairs. He will have an excellent opportunity to learn from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and RJ Barrett. Nembhard has looked good in five friendly games with Team Canada and will be a crucial part of their rotation. Canada is looking to medal at its first basketball Olympic tournament in over 20 years. Playing with your national team has done wonders for many players recently. Lauri Markkanen went from a roll player to an All-Star following a great euro basket with Finland. His fellow Canadian Barrett had a great FIBA World Cup and followed that with a great season up north with the Raptors.
Are The Pacers Contenders?
The Pacers made the ECF last postseason, defeating the Milwaukee Bucks and New York Knicks. This offseason, the team was able to resign Pascal Siakam and Obi Toppin, bringing back nearly their full playoff roster. With another year of growth for Haliburton, Nembhard, and Bennedict Mathurin, the Pacers should be better next season. The East will run through the Celtics for the next few seasons, but the Pacers are one of the best-positioned teams to challenge the C’s next year.
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