Andrew Nembhard on the tournament experience, a $200k prize and being sidelined with a knee injury

Pacers guard Andrew Nembhard talks about his knee injury for the first time and shares how the tournament was beneficial to the Pacers.

Andrew Nembhard returned to Indianapolis this week after the Pacers’ run to the finals of the first NBA Cup. The team, meanwhile, continued on to Detroit to begin a four-game road trip that was on their schedule before the season.

The second-year guard sustained a bone bruise in his right knee one week ago, late in their semifinals win over the Milwaukee Bucks. And thankfully, that was all. And now he’ll be evaluated week-to-week, coach Rick Carlisle said.

Since he’s not with the team, Nembhard sat courtside Wednesday night at Gainbridge Fieldhouse for the Indiana Mad Ants’ 110-102 win over the Wisconsin Herd. Nembhard’s Gonzaga teammate Drew Timme comes off the bench for the Herd.

“I’m super relieved,” Nembhard told Fieldhouse Files of his injury. “Definitely think I dodged a bullet not having to be out longer than what it seems like it’s going to be. I love hooping so much that it wouldn’t have been nice for me, I’m ain’t gonna lie. I’m happy to be back on the court soon.”

Nembhard went down awkwardly by the basket stanchion against the Bucks in Las Vegas and he needed help up and off the court.

“I ended up finishing my walking to the locker room,” he said, “which gave me some confidence. I didn’t know what to think. I thought I hurt my knee more than it was, more than a bone bruise.”

Still, he’s missing at least a week of games — including the marquee matchup against the Los Angeles Lakers last Saturday on ABC for the championship. And they could have really used him — they always can — because of his basketball intellect, defense, sturdy frame and competitiveness. If you didn’t know, you’d think he’s a six-year vet in the league rather than it only being year 2.