Who Are Andrew Nembhard’s Parents? All About the Pacers Star’s Family, Background & More

What does it take to raise not one, but two elite-level point guards? Is it genetics, relentless practice, or perhaps an unwavering family support system? For Andrew Nembhard, the Indiana Pacers’ rising star, and his younger brother Ryan, a standout at Gonzaga University, the answer lies in the foundational pillars set by their parents, Claude Nembhard and Mary Nembhard. In a country where hockey reigns supreme, the Nembhards quietly built a basketball dynasty. One gym session, one road trip, and one sacrifice at a time.

Who are Andrew Nembhard’s parents?

Andrew’s journey into basketball began remarkably early. At just one year old, he received a Fisher-Price basketball set. A gift that would unknowingly ignite a lifelong love affair with the game. By the age of three, he was already playing in leagues with five-year-olds, showcasing a rare sense of comfort with the ball in his hands.

His father, Claude, a former player at York and Ryerson Universities, didn’t just spot this early spark—he nurtured it. He became Andrew’s first coach, yes—but also the steady hand when things got tough and expectations grew. Claude’s role was bigger than drawing up plays. He was the anchor.

“My dad has been a huge part of my basketball,” Andrew once said. It wasn’t a generic thank-you. It was a truth earned through years of late-night talks, tough love, and time shared on cold gym floors. Claude believed in composure over flash. He taught his son how to think, not just how to move. And that basketball IQ would soon become one of Andrew’s defining traits.

While Claude was shaping the player, Mary was shaping the man. His mother, Mary, a Canadian with a background in basketball as well, was more than just a supporter on the sidelines. She was a quiet powerhouse, organizing schedules, making sure everyone ate, slept, studied, and smiled when they needed to. She was the glue that held it all together when days were long and tempers short. Beyond her community work in Vaughan’s basketball scene, Mary’s biggest job was being present. Fully, wholly, without fail.

Andrew credits his mother for molding his perspective. The values she instilled—humility, balance, kindness—weren’t just parental teachings. They were life teachings. And even in the sharp lights of the NBA, those values still guide him.

The sacrifices behind the scenes

It’s easy to romanticize the “rise” of an athlete. The highlight reels. The rankings. And the draft night. But behind Andrew and Ryan’s success is a decade-long marathon of unglamorous sacrifices. Spanning from 2005, when Andrew first joined Team Ontario, through their 2025 NCAA runs.

Claude and Mary often split parenting duties. Claude was taking one kid to a tournament while Mary supported the other somewhere else. Weekends turned into blur-streaks of highway exits, gas station snacks, and hotel check-ins. It wasn’t always easy. But they believed in the dream as fiercely as their sons did. That kind of devotion leaves a mark. When life gets hard, it teaches you that love can show up as simple as a packed lunch or a pre-dawn drive.

Even now, Claude is still in the game. As CEO of Ontario Basketball, he’s not just overseeing programs now, he’s building futures of many. He wants to create for others what he and Mary created for their boys: opportunity, belief, access.

“My kids have been blessed to be around the best… That is what I want to bring to Ontario Basketball,” he’s said. This isn’t about nostalgia. It’s about building systems, showing up for the underdog, and proving that talent can come from any postal code, if someone just believes in it early enough.

The Nembhards’ Sibling Dynamic

Andrew and Ryan? That bond isn’t for the cameras. They text. They break down each other’s film. Talk trash, then talk bromance. Ryan’s still the little brother, but the gap’s closing fast, and Andrew’s his biggest fan.

Claude once shared how Andrew would call to go over Ryan’s games late at night, not because he had to, but because that’s just what big brothers do. They’re not just repping each other. They’re rewriting what it looks like to rise together. And let’s be honest, we love seeing a good old bromance energy, now don’t we?

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