'Incredible' Andrew Nembhard Emerges as Soul of Indiana Pacers

The Indiana Pacers play fast, efficient, guard-heavy basketball, and their journey to the Eastern Conference Finals last season was a testament to how successful that model can be. Indiana is not a great defensive team, but they consistently run circles around their opponents on the offensive side of the ball.

The NBA preseason is mostly for players to sharpen their skills before the actual season, and it gives fringe players a chance to earn a contract. Usually ripe for overreaction, one Pacer has already stood out.

The Pacers lost to the Atlanta Hawks on Tuesday night, 131-130. Like most preseason games, the final score is not the most important part of the night. In the victory, Andrew Nembhard showcased his versatility, racking up 10 points, three rebounds, and three assists in limited minutes. He shot zero-for-two from three and remains one of the more flexible players in the lineup.

Before the game, veteran point guard TJ McConnell sang Nembhard's praises. The young Canadian emerged as a solid player last season and continued to improve in the Paris Olympics, where he suited up for his country. The Pacers expect him to continue to improve and be a focal point on both sides of the ball.

"What Drew does for us, you can't put a price on," said McConnell. "He's our Swiss Army knife, he can play point guard when Ty's getting pressured, he can be the two, he can even be the three. And he can guard any position. So what he does for us, you can't put it into words. He's incredible."

In the loss against the Hawks, Nembhard showcased exceptional talent on both ends of the court. He struggled to hit shots from deep, but found the rim with ease and settled into his spot in the midrange, looking almost like Anthony Edwards.

Related: Tyrese Haliburton Dethrones LaMelo Ball?

While the Pacers certainly belong to Haliburton, Nembhard is only getting better and is one of the brightest young players in the NBA.