Pacers Drafted Standout Guard Right Before Lakers Were Going to Take Him

Jan 25, 2024; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Philadelphia 76ers guard Ricky Council IV (16) shoots the ball while Indiana Pacers guard Bennedict Mathurin (00) and guard Andrew Nembhard (2) defend in the second half at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images | Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images

The Indiana Pacers enjoyed a pretty lowkey great 2022 NBA Draft.

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Indiana selected energy-changing swingman Bennedict Mathurin out of Arizona with the No. 6 selection in the middle of the lottery, while the team nabbed two-way starting NBA Finals guard Andrew Nembhard at No. 31 out of Gonzaga.

Per Jovan Buha of "Buha's Block," the Los Angeles Lakers were also eyeing Nembhard — but Indiana enjoyed the benefit of drafting first.

“There is an alternate universe where he’s a Laker," Buha said. "Because one fun fact is that the pick the Lakers used Max Christie on, they were hoping Nembhard was going to slip, but he went 31st to Indiana.”

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Los Angeles used the No. 35 pick on Christie, a solid 3-and-D wing out of Michigan State very much in the Nembhard mold — but without his handle or point-of-attack defense.

Nembhard's abilities as a creator will be put to the test in 2025-26, as he has already been penciled in to replace injured two-time All-NBA Third Team star Tyrese Haliburton as Indiana's temporary starting point guard.

Haliburton ruptured his Achilles tendon in the opening quarter of Game 7 of the NBA Finals, and the rudderless Pacers eventually fell to the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Nembhard had already emerged as a major playoff force with the Pacers during the 2024 postseason, en route to their first of two straight Eastern Conference Finals berths.

The 6-foot-4 pro, still just 25, averaged 10.0 points on .458/.291/.794 shooting splits, 5.0 assists, 3.0 rebounds, and 1.2 steals a night in 65 contests for the 50-32 Pacers. In 23 playoff bouts, he boosted those numbers to 12.5 points on a .471/.465/.804 slash line, 4.7 dimes, 3.2 boards, and 1.5 swipes.

A Lost Opportunity for Los Angeles

Christie may have already been a diamond-in-the-rough, emerging as a true asset by the start of the 2024-25 season. He was eventually traded away to the Dallas Mavericks as part of the team's bizarre blockbuster Luka Doncic deal. In 32 games with the Mavericks (11 starts), Christie averaged 11.2 points on .411/.364/.862 shooting splits, 4.2 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 0.9 steals, while playing 30.4 minutes for an ailing play-in tournament team.

But Christie is not Nembhard. How much could LeBron James and a pre-trade Anthony Davis benefitted in 2022-23 and 2023-24 with Nembhard installed in the Lakers' rotation instead of Christie? He would have improved the club in a material way, although it's doubtful the team would have been good enough to best the Denver Nuggets in either of their playoff encounters.

For more news and notes on the Indiana Pacers, visit Indiana Pacers on SI.