Julian Strawther is heading into his second season in the NBA. His rookie season was streaky, but he showed flashes of potential, especially when he was hitting his three-point shot. He never carved out a role in his initial NBA season, but will likely be an important piece to the Denver Nuggets’ bench this season. After an impressive performance at the NBA Summer League, Strawther continued by having a very promising preseason. Over the Nuggets’ five preseason games, Strawther scored a total of 94 points, which is currently first among all players for preseason scoring. He has the momentum heading into the regular season and will look for it to continue.
Julian Strawther is Primed for a Breakout Season
Nuggets’ Bench is in Need of Increased Production
The Nuggets finished 25th in bench points during the 2023-24 season. Their top-scoring bench player was Reggie Jackson, who they traded during the offseason. Only two other bench players averaged more than five points a contest. The lack of scoring in the second unit was a glaring issue, especially in the playoffs, where the starters ran out of steam. In Strawther’s limited minutes as a rookie, he averaged 4.5 points per game in 50 appearances. Many of those minutes came in garbage time, which limited his ability to get in a groove. Having momentum from a solid preseason could help him get out to a good start to the regular season.
The Nuggets added former NBA MVP Russell Westbrook and veteran Dario Šarić in the offseason to strengthen their bench unit. Strawther’s game compliments Westbrook well, as Westbrook is one of the most aggressive players when driving toward the hoop. His interior game will open up open shots on the perimeter for Strawther, who put up extremely impressive three-point shooting efficiency in both Summer League and preseason. Signing those players will allow Strawther to play alongside veterans, who he can learn from and improve with.
Strawther will be an important piece in taking off some slack from the starters, who have been burdened with carrying a significant portion of the Nuggets’ offense the past couple of seasons. If he is able to score 8-12 points per game on solid efficiency, while being a net positive on the defensive end, he could see an increased role by the end of the season. The Nuggets were dead last in three-point attempts per game last season. Adding an efficient three-point shooter to their bench could be a significant boost to their completely revamped bench unit. With the skillsets of their new bench unit, it’s setting up Strawther for a breakout season.
Preseason and Summer League Performances
Strawther averaged 18.8 points per game in 28 minutes per game across the Nuggets’ five preseason contests. He showed off his impressive scoring abilities with ridiculous efficiency. He shot 52.6% from the field, 50% from three, and 77.8% from the free-throw line. His ability to draw fouls was impressive, as he averaged 5.4 free throw attempts per game. Strawther scored in double-digits in all five games, including finishing off the preseason with a 33-point explosion on 13 shots. His three-point shot kept defenders close, which opened up his ability to drive, expanding his offensive game.
The Summer League was equally, if not more impressive, as Strawther averaged 28.5 points in his two appearances. He led all players in scoring average, showing his skills as a volume shooter. He knocked down 40.9% of his three-point shots making 4.5 a game and proving he was an improved prospect. Strawther has plenty of room to improve on his game, but he proved he was clearly too good of a player to be playing in the Summer League. Overall, Strawther has showcased his improved offensive skills across both the Summer League and the preseason. His offensive production will be an important addition to a Nuggets’ bench that has lacked consistent scoring the past couple of seasons.
Losing Kentavious Caldwell-Pope in the offseason, who signed with the Orlando Magic, opened up minutes for someone to claim. With Christian Braun sliding into the starting shooting guard role, it leaves the backup shooting guard minutes open for Strawther to claim. So far, he has done everything asked of him to earn those minutes. With concerns about the Nuggets’ depth and disagreements between head coach, Michael Malone, and the Nuggets’ front office, Strawther having a breakout season would help silence those concerns.
