The Denver Nuggets are moving closer to one of the most anticipated seasons in franchise history.
Let’s continue our three-week series in advance of Media Day on September 29th. With 14 players on the roster and a new mix of players to discuss, it’s important to remember who the Nuggets have, who they don’t have, and what to expect heading into October.
Up next, a check-in on Julian Strawther.
Last season, Julian Strawther maybe had the second most difficult job on the Denver Nuggets roster after Nikola Jokic.
Entering his second season, there was no other option than for Strawther to play heavy minutes. He wasn’t quite ready, and the Nuggets struggled at times with Strawther on the floor because of defensive limitations and hot/cold shooting on offense. Still, the Nuggets truly didn’t have anyone else to step up on the wing. It was third year starter Christian Braun and second year backup Julian Strawther. That was it. That was the roster.
Still, Strawther had moments of excitement throughout a tumultuous second year. He averaged 9.0 points and 2.2 assists in 21.3 minutes per game, serving as Denver’s eighth man for the vast majority of the season. In 65 games, Strawther scored in double figures 27 times. He only had one 20-point game though, and the explosiveness the Nuggets hoped for from Strawther as a shooter wasn’t quite present.
Of course, if you’re not getting enough shot attempts, it’s difficult to put up crooked scoring totals. Strawther attempted 10+ shots 16 times. Peyton Watson, Denver’s seventh man, did so eight total times. Denver’s sixth man, Russell Westbrook, did so 49 times. The shot distribution was clearly geared heavily toward Westbrook last year, rightly or wrongly.
In the playoffs, Strawther wasn’t a factor until the second round against the Oklahoma City Thunder. There was understandable fear that Strawther would be hunted defensively after a regular season of being hunted by opposing stars. That didn’t happen as much in the playoffs, and when it did, Strawther held his own in a reasonable way. He did well enough that the Nuggets trusted him to be out there in a win-or-go-home Game 6, and that was a huge moment for Strawther.
Strawther finished Game 6 with 15 points off the bench, giving the Nuggets the boost they needed to force a Game 7. It obviously didn’t end well for Denver, but that moment, and Strawther earning that time throughout the entire series, was extremely notable.
Heading into 2025-26, the bench rotation is uncertain. The additions of Bruce Brown, Tim Hardaway Jr., and Jonas Valanciunas add a layer of veteran depth that the Nuggets need, but where that leaves both Watson and Strawther remains to be seen. Brown will be Denver’s de facto backup point guard, but Hardaway and Strawther are both similar players that have similar defensive weaknesses. Can Denver afford to play both?
Then, there’s the question of playing small on the second unit. If the Nuggets simply play a unit featuring Brown, Hardaway, Strawther, Watson, and Valanciunas, that’s a very perimeter oriented group around a big center that will struggle defensively on most nights. Do the Nuggets elect to feature one of DaRon Holmes II or Zeke Nnaji at power forward to push Watson to small forward instead? If that happens, which of Strawther or Hardaway exits the rotation?
These are good questions to have for the Nuggets and should be a bonus for head coach David Adelman. It will push Strawther to continue doing what the Nuggets ask for him to do if he wants to see the floor consistently. It might also be a moot point. If the Nuggets suffer any injuries, the rotation will shift, and Strawther will almost certainly have minutes during the regular season.
There’s a chance the Gonzaga wing has a breakout going into his third season. That would benefit the Nuggets immensely. They need a consistent jolt of offense from the second unit, and where it’s Hardaway, Valanciunas, Strawther, or someone else, the Nuggets will be better for it.
If it’s not Strawther though, there’s a chance he’s out of the regular rotation by March, with the Nuggets emphasizing veterans and defensive options in his place.
Time will tell, but this is a big year for Strawther, potentially a critical pivot point for his entire career. Play well, earn minutes, score points, and get paid. Or, be buried behind others in Denver’s quest to win a championship.
Let’s see what Strawther looks like heading into training camp.