> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.emeraldcityspectrum.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Recapping Seasons of Five Former Gonzaga Bulldogs That Missed NBA Playoffs - URL: https://www.emeraldcityspectrum.com/recapping-seasons-five-former-gonzaga-bulldogs-missed-nba-playoffs/ - Published: 2026-06-21T01:16:41.000Z - Updated: 2026-10-08T05:55:43.000Z - Author: Corbin Smith - Tags: Analysis, Gonzaga Men's Basketball, Domantas Sabonis, Andrew Nembhard, Ryan Nembhard, Zach Collins, Malachi Smith \[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="3385"\] ![ Indiana Pacers guard Andrew Nembhard (2) dribbles the ball while Miami Heat forward Andrew Wiggins (22) defends in the first half at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1d/f2/1df2f77b-83dd-4bc0-a6d2-6d1bb5df89a3/content/images/2026/10/usatsi_28617402-format-original.jpg) Indiana Pacers guard Andrew Nembhard (2) dribbles the ball while Miami Heat forward Andrew Wiggins (22) defends in the first half at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images \[/caption\] To cap off the 2025 NBA season, just days before the offseason officially begins with the draft, free agency, and noteworthy trades, let’s look at five ex-Gonzaga Bulldogs who played on underperforming teams this past year. From a rookie joining his brother in the pros to a longtime G-League player finally getting an opportunity, these Zags were still involved in notable storylines throughout the year, potentially paving the way to be larger contributors for contenders when next season rolls around. **Domantas Sabonis, Sacramento Kings** **Regular Season Stats: 19.2 PPG, 13.8 RPG, 5.0 APG, 1.1 SPG, 54.3 FG%** Missing most of the season due to a meniscus tear, Sabonis still showed his ability to impact the game even though he suited up for just 19 contests. The 30-year-old averaged a double-double while feasting on his shot attempts inside, but never got into a rhythm with his three-point shot, finishing the year shooting 18.5% from deep on 27 attempts. In his short time on the floor, Sabonis did continue to be a beast on the offensive glass, creating extra possessions with his firm, 6-10, 240-pound frame. Sabonis has now wrapped up his fifth season in Sacramento, and things have continued to deteriorate for the franchise. With few young players to build around and holding plenty of older, movable contracts, Sabonis could be a trade candidate if the Kings fully committed to a rebuild. He still has two years remaining on a backloaded five-year, $217 million extension, so potential acquiring teams will have to believe Sabonis’ price will match his production. The NBA recently instituted regulations to de-incentivize tanking, so teams like Sacramento have tougher decisions to make when dealing for draft capital, especially in Sabonis’ case, who is getting older and coming off injury. **Andrew Nembhard, Indiana Pacers** **Regular Season Stats: 16.9 PPG, 7.7 APG, 2.8 RPG, 36.1 3PT%, 56.4 TS%** Just a season after Indiana reached the NBA Finals, it was a year to forget for many in the organization. Starting with star guard Tyrese Haliburton missing the entire year due to a torn Achilles, plus a litany of other injuries and departures on the roster, the Pacers finished with the second-worst record in the Eastern Conference. For Nembhard, several minor injuries throughout the season limited him to only 57 games, but he still got to showcase his skillset when given more of the offensive workload consistently. Initally stepping up offensively during the Pacers’ playoff run last year, the 6-4 guard’s scoring and facilitating numbers both took leaps as he experienced over a 7% increase in usage rate. Some of Nembhard’s efficiency marks and overall defensive production worsened in the process, but that can be expected with his role changing so substantially. The former WCC Sixth Man of the Year now has more experience to alleviate the offensive pressure when Haliburton does return to the lineup, as Indiana can make the most out of the three-year, $59 million extension it inked Nembhard to a couple of years ago. **Ryan Nembhard, Dallas Mavericks** **Regular Season Stats: 6.6 PPG, 5.3 APG, 2.2 RPG, 35.6 3PT%** In a highly fluid role for Dallas during his rookie campaign, Ryan Nembhard still managed to prove his value in the league. After going undrafted last summer and signing a two-way deal with the Mavericks, Nembhard signed a two-way deal with the franchise on March 1\. He had several highlight performances, notching four double-doubles, including a 15-point, 23-assist game in the team’s season finale victory over the Chicago Bulls. The previous franchise rookie record for assists in a game was 17, set by the team’s head coach at the time, Jason Kidd. At the next level, Nembhard’s shotmaking ability did seem to take a hit. Finishing the year shooting 41.5% from the field, a true shooting clip south of 50%, and not really getting to the free-throw line, the undersized guard likely had an adjustment period to the league’s physicality and spacing. But despite being 5-11 and 180 pounds, Nembhard continued to showcase his high feel and vision when running an offense. The two-time First-Team All-WCC selectee did lead the country in dimes during his senior season with the Zags, yet although his impact in terms of creating shots for others is a given, he will need to step up defensively and be more efficient to get sustained playing time moving forward. **Zach Collins, Chicago Bulls** **Regular Season Stats: 9.7 PPG, 5.6 RPG, 1.5 APG, 57.8 FG%, 42.9 3PT%** Like Sabonis, Collins was sidelined for the majority of the season on a team that was one of the worst in its respective conference. He played in only 10 games because of a left wrist injury and later suffered a right toe ailment that required season-ending surgery. When he did get on the floor though, Collins logged quality minutes as a backup big man for the Bulls. In addition to frequently finishing attempts on the interior, the 6-9 Collins was on pace for the best three-point shooting season of his career, knocking down nine of 21 tries from distance, similar to his lone season in Spokane a decade ago. The 28-year-old will enter free agency this summer, vying to aid an NBA frontcourt with his experience and production. **Malachi Smith, Brooklyn Nets** **Regular Season Stats: 8.3 PPG, 3.4 RPG, 3.3 APG, 43.5 3PT%, 60.5 TS%** After three years of bouncing around in the G-League ranks, Smith played his first NBA minutes during the 2025-26 campaign. Traded from the Memphis Hustle to the Long Island Nets last September, the 6-4 combo guard averaged 15.9 points and 6.9 assists on 51.4% shooting in 28 games for Long Island. On March 13, he signed a 10-day contract with Brooklyn. In that stretch where he played six games, Smith hit five of his 10 attempts from three and stuffed the stat sheet in ample playing time. The Nets inked him to another 10-day after the previous one expired, and Smith continued to light it up from three-point territory and be a positive contributor to Brooklyn’s rotation, prompting the organization to offer him a two-year, standard NBA deal on April 4. As the Nets attempt to dig themselves out of this rough era of basketball, quality role players like Smith could come in handy in the coming years. Winning WCC Sixth Man of the Year in 2022-23, he is more than comfortable filling into an auxiliary role to help raise the franchise’s floor.