NBA FINALS: THUNDER VS. PACERS

June 12, 2025

Andrew Nembhard

Indiana Pacers

Practice Day

Q. You seem to have gotten Shai frustrated more than any defender has all season. What is the key to that?

ANDREW NEMBHARD: It's a team effort, trying to play hard, make it tough on him.

Q. He seems to be emotionally frustrated. You guys have a history together. What are you doing? Did you know what buttons to push?

ANDREW NEMBHARD: I don’t even know if he is emotionally frustrated. Guy is pretty even-keeled. He's been through a lot. He's the MVP of the league. Not going to do too much to kind of sway that.

Q. What was your relationship before the series? A lot of history playing together?

ANDREW NEMBHARD: A lot of watching from afar, seeing each other's success. Guy that set the pace for Canadian basketball. Guy who has a lot of game that people can learn from. I definitely admire him from afar.

Q. You talk about making him work. You've been picking up higher in this series. As high as any other team has picked him up. Going at him the other end of the floor. How much do you think those body blows take a toll in terms of fatigue throughout the game?

ANDREW NEMBHARD: I think we're trying to make it tough on him. The biggest thing is just you're persistent, trying to make it tough on him. It's a team job. We all have to be locked in and tied together on that end of the floor to get it done.

Q. How much have you learned from playing with T.J.?

ANDREW NEMBHARD: I definitely watch T.J. a lot, see how he's impacting the game, and how instrumental he is to his own success, our team's success. I also feel I have a little bit of that in me, growing up, wanting to be competitive and taking those battles a little personal.

Q. What makes those inbounds steals he seems to always get possible?

ANDREW NEMBHARD: Not really sure. He’s just very sneaky with it, got a good feel for it. A lot of experience, a lot of tries probably.

Q. Andrew, how big is this Game 4 for you guys?

ANDREW NEMBHARD: I mean, each game in the Playoffs is important. Coming in with the same mentality, to play hard and stay together.

Q. What makes your transition defense so effective?

ANDREW NEMBHARD: I think our whole game plan of how we play with pace. Just being locked in, tied together, understanding that's important.