Andrew Nembhard said it all in a Reddit AMA.
Andrew Nembhard, a Canadian guard for the Indiana Pacers known for his poised playmaking and perimeter defense, answered questions about his young career and Indiana’s deep 2025 playoff run during a Reddit AMA. Check out what he had to say:
Did you know what you were gonna do on that iso vs. Shai game 1? Or were you just in flow state? Me and my friends ( and the whole world) were going crazy watching you cook
I think when you get into moments like that, the only way you make it is when you’re fluent. Definitely didn’t think of that move. Just kind of came out of my body at the time. — Andrew
In these big moments in the playoffs where you’ve shown up, are you aware of how much pressure there is on each play down the stretch and how do you handle that challenge mentally?
I kind of try to look at the pressure as an exciting opportunity to do what I love to do. I’ve played basketball for so long that I don’t really look at those moments as pressure moments, more of a chance to have fun with it.
How do you feel about your brother entering the NBA? Also, it was amazing seeing your run in 2025
My brother entering the NBA was one of the biggest moments for him and our family. We’re all really excited to see him put in all the work over the years and get to this point. I’m super proud of him, and it’s cool to see my brother joining my footsteps in the league.
Hey Andrew! You’re my favorite player in the whole league. I am a teacher and an alum at the Indiana School for the Deaf, right here in Indianapolis.
Our community loves the blue and gold. You have an incredible resilience during high-pressure playoff games. Does that calm demeanor carry over to the locker room, or are you secretly a vocal leader when the cameras are off?
What is the biggest thing Coach Rick did behind the scenes to instill confidence in you guys during those intense playoff stretches? Appreciate all your hard work, man. Keep killing it and hope to meet you someday
Vocal leadership has been a thing I’ve always looked at as somewhere I can grow in, and I think this past season was a great season for me to kind of grow in that area, but I’m kind of calm all around, I’d say. As for coach, I think the biggest thing that he does to instill confidence during the playoffs is that he treats it like a normal game. Guys were coming in whenever they knew they were gonna come in. They knew the rule, everybody bought into the rule. He created an environment that was conducive to us playing together and growing chemistry, so I think the biggest thing he did was build a culture within the team.
I have a lot of respect for the way you play ever since those ’25 playoffs and you were so integral to that playoff run that I just wanted to give you your flowers first along with my question:
How do you manage to be such a good defender? Is there a tip you have like where you watch/keep your eyes fixed on another player, whether to keep your body square to them or slide, do you have a specific defensive idea that underpins how you’re able to be so good or a ranking of priorities for us basketball lovers who want to defend like you?
I think the first thing on that side of the court that I try to keep in mind is just trying to compete at the highest level possible that I can. And then after that, I think I look at tendencies and what guys like to do, and situations that they’re in, and what they tend to do in those situations, and try to get a feel for it throughout the game. Staying square is also a key thing for me. With a little shorter arms, I try to keep myself in front of them and the rim.
Who was the hardest guy for you to guard during your playoff run?
Bonus Question: How was watching your brother going though the draft process having gone through it yourself? Was there any advice you gave him?
I’d have to say James Johnson on the scout team. And for the draft, that process is a grueling process. You’re traveling to many cities in a short amount of time, trying to put your best foot forward, and I just told him to show them that you care, compete hard and just let the chips fall where they fall. So, a little bit of advice, but more just kind of him doing it himself.
Not a question, but your father coached me when I was growing up in the GTA and he was such a great coach and person. I have a memory of you and your brother tagging along at practices shooting on the side and it was really cool to see your finals run last year
That sounds about right. My Pops was coaching all throughout the city, and we would always just find a way in the gym somehow with him.
Watching you in your first season guard Herro for the last play of the game vs Miami, I think it was clear you were going to be a good defensive player in this league. We’ve heard you bring up Jrue Holiday as someone who you model your game after before. So really my question is, at what point did you decide you were going to focus and practice defense so heavily? Was it something you noticed the team could use when you got to the NBA, or have you always enjoyed that side of the ball?
I felt like growing up, I was always the guy who they would put on the best player, so I grew a love for competing on that side of the floor. And then, as I got to the league, I was always a point guard. When I was coming in, they had Tyrese, they had TJ, so I wanted to figure out where I would fit in. I think defense was an area that we needed on this team, and I wanted to compete to get a spot.
What is your conditioning routine? I feel like that’s an underrated part of your game. I can draw on a few examples where you picked up Shai full court and then proceeded to push the ball on offense
Conditioning is a tough thing. I mean, I think we always all try to train it as hard as we can in the summer, but there’s nothing like playing in games, and the 82 games before the playoffs, where I got real minutes and got to test my gas tank out, is where I create that conditioning.
From one Canadian to another; how did it feel stepping into Finals territory, going the distance, and being such a crucial key player alongside your team–with your northern roots represented alongside Indiana?
It was a surreal experience, especially having so many Canadians in the game that I’ve played against or grown up around in a way. And just seeing us all get to this point was a surreal moment, as well as the moment itself. Playing in a Game 7 of the NBA Finals is not something many people could probably say they’ve done. It’s just kind of what we, as basketball players, dream of and thrive in those pressure moments.
Who was the player you modeled your game off the most?
I think I’ve always been someone who’s tried to take bits and pieces of so many different guys’ games. When I was young, I was a big Chris Paul fan. James Harden’s a guy who you can look at parts and bits of his game, and I try to take a little bit of that. So, those are two quick ones that come to mind, but there are so many along the way.
Favorite team to play against? Favorite arena to play in?
I’ll go Toronto. I love playing in front of the home crowd and being back home. Always a lot of love coming from those fans.
How cool was it last year to see 4 Canadians in the Finals (SGA, Dort, yourself, and Benn)? Where does Canada stack up for the next FIBA WC and Olympics?
Yeah, it’s very, very cool to see where the game has come. Since I started playing basketball, there weren’t that many Canadians in the NBA, and now we have, I think, around 20. So, exciting for the whole country, and where the game of basketball is going, and it’s our job to make it worthwhile at the next World Cup and Olympics, hopefully, and medal.
What kind of feedback did get from NBA scouts those summers when you were deciding whether to declare for the draft? How did you approach that feedback and ultimately use it to become as ready as you were when you entered the league? You’ve always been reliable with the ball, but your shiftiness has really developed from your U-18 days.
The biggest advice or critiques that they had for me were my defense and my size and strength, at the time. But I think that was one of the hidden strengths that people didn’t really know too much about me, because I was more of an offensive player, a guy who had the ball in his hands a lot in college, so that was just something I felt like I had to prove.
Do you have any pregame traditions? Hype song or something to get in the zone, and does that change in the playoffs, do you prepare differently? Really enjoyed watching the finals run hope to see y’all again next season
I wouldn’t say I have superstitions or anything like that that I start the game with. I have a nice little routine where I get my shots and get my workout in. In terms of music, I kind of put whatever I’m liking that day. Might be R&B, might be hip-hop. Might be something that’s a little bit faster, like rap, might be something that’s super slow, depends on the day.
What top 3 things do you want to accomplish before you retire? Maybe a specific award, make **** in earnings, etc…
Or at what age did you start to think “I might actually be able to make it to the NBA”?
I say, winning a championship is one. I think that’s the only one. I mean, other than that, accomplishments individually, I have a hard time setting goals on things like that. I just want to win and have a good time doing it.
Great to see you representing Canada at the Olympics! What is your best team Canada memory? And is it on the bucket list to share the court with your brother for your country?
I’d say probably the U16 and U17 age groups, when there were a lot of friends my age who were just growing up, having fun with the game, and traveling the world and seeing new things. I’d say those times are my biggest memories.
As a busy professional athlete, what activities do you enjoy during your ‘off time’ to manage your mental health? What underrated qualities can the everyday person work on to perform at a high level in their own profession?
I think something that I’ve tried to implement into my daily life is just a nice morning routine where I wake up, kind of slowly take my time, and ease into my day. A hobby I’ve just recently picked up in the last month or two, which is trending throughout the NBA, is golf. I’ve just started, but I think that’s something I’m gonna really latch onto.
How many pairs of basketball shoes do you go throughout the season and do you have a favorite pair of all time?
Around seven to 10. I’d say that every five or six games, we’ll switch it up. I don’t really go through too many. My favorite pair of all time is probably Jordan 4s. I grew up in the Jordans.
Ceiling of the Pacers next season? What excites you the most about your current lineup with a healthy Hali?
I think the ceiling for us is winning a championship. I think we have a lot of guys with a bunch of experience in the playoffs. We have created a lot of chemistry over the last 3-4 years. And, Haliburton’s our engine. We’re gonna have him back. He brings a lot of energy to the game, and he’s just a really good player, so having him and Zu now, I think it’ll be a figuring-out process together, but I think the ceiling is an NBA championship, for sure.
What’s your go to routine that could be classified as a superstition, like a pre-game ritual?
No, I wouldn’t say so. I used to. But I kind of try to cut out all the superstitions. I used to be like, “Did I put my shoe on the right foot or the left foot first?” If I had a good game, I might try to do it again, but I’ll forget what I did, so, probably not a good place to be in.
What’s been your favorite experience on the court or off being in professional basketball?
I think my favorite experience on the court was my rookie year, just getting to experience playing against some of these players I’ve grown up watching night in, night out, and I was getting a lot of the task of having to guard them. So I think that was just a competitive, challenging experience that I loved. Off the court the hotels we stay at are pretty nice.
What was your favorite moment of the 2025 playoff run?
Probably the bounce, the shot that Hali hit, where it bounced up and came back in the Garden. That was a moment to remember, for sure. I thought he was gonna make it. He had a clear lane and kind of pulled it back out to shoot the three. I thought it was game, actually, after he shot it, but his foot was on the line. I thought it was good though when it left his hands.
Favorite players to watch in the league?
It’s probably my brother, Ryan.
What feels better to you:
A) Hitting a big time shot and getting your team’s home crowd fired up/celebrating?
B) Hitting a big time shot and silencing an opponent’s rowdy home crowd?
Go Pacers!
This is a tough question, actually. I’d say I kind of like silencing the other crowd a little bit more.
What excites you the most about playing with Ivica Zubac?
If you were coaching a prospect, what’s the most important thing you’d try to teach them about navigating screens?
I think Zubac’s gravity is intriguing, and how much attention he draws on that side of the floor offensively. I think he’ll be able to set a lot of screens and give us a lot of space, as well as be a dominant threat in the paint when he catches the ball, especially one-on-one down there, so I’m excited to play with him, to say the least. And then, when navigating screens, I think the biggest thing is getting into the body early and pressing up your defense close to your offensive player before the screen, and trying to get through without having to use the help defender. I think that’s the biggest thing, being physical and fighting over that screen, getting it to his body early.