Ryan Nembhard Is off to The Mile-High City

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JULY 09: Ryan Nembhard #9 of the Dallas Mavericks shoots a layup against Malevy Leons #33 and LJ Cryer #18 of the Golden State Warriors in the second half of a 2026 NBA Summer League game at the Thomas & Mack Center on July 09, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) | Getty Images

After being an unrestricted free agent for less than a day and receiving multiple two-way offers from around the NBA, lead guard Ryan Nembhard has signed with the Denver Nuggets. Combo guard KJ Simpson was released from his two-way contract in order to make space for the former Gonzaga Bulldog, who will become teammates with fourth-year wing Julian Strawther.

Nembhard was traded by the Dallas Mavericks to the Atlanta Hawks back in July before being acquired and waived by the Charlotte Hornets in September. The Consensus NBA was the first to report Denver’s initial interest in the all-time Zag.

Welcome to the squad pic.twitter.com/A7aHfhoP6K

— Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) September 30, 2026

At an undersized 5-11, the rookie averaged 6.6 points on a shooting split of 41.5 field goal percentage/35.6 three-point percentage/80.6 free throw percentage, 5.3 assists, and 2.2 rebounds in 19.5 minutes across 60 appearances in the 2025-26 campaign. Nembhard set an NBA rookie record with 23 assists in Dallas’ season finale against the Chicago Bulls.

Entering his second season in the NBA, the 23-year-old primary ball handler looks to play meaningful minutes during the regular season for coach David Adelman while spending some time with their G League affiliate Grand Rapids Gold. The Nuggets training camp has already begun in Boulder at the CU Events Center on the University of Colorado’s campus.

Arden Cravalho is a Gonzaga University graduate from the Bay Area… Follow him on X @a_cravalho