{"id":161550,"date":"2025-10-05T19:26:58","date_gmt":"2025-10-05T23:26:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/?p=161550"},"modified":"2025-10-12T19:01:59","modified_gmt":"2025-10-12T23:01:59","slug":"denver-nuggets-3-burning-questions-2025-26-season","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2025\/10\/05\/denver-nuggets-3-burning-questions-2025-26-season\/","title":{"rendered":"3 Burning Questions For Nuggets Heading Into 2025-26 Season"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Denver Nuggets are about to embark on their 59th season but it’s one that’s of supreme importance. Just two years removed from winning the first championship in franchise history, they haven’t gotten the taste of champagne out of their mouths. They know that their title window is still open as long as they have arguably the top player in the game. However, to achieve that goal, they can’t just rely on their three-time NBA MVP.<\/p>\n

3 Burning Questions For Nuggets Heading Into 2025-26 Season<\/h3>\n

The Nuggets have three burning questions as they head into the 2025-26 season.<\/p>\n

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Sep 29, 2025; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Nuggets player DaRon Holmes II (14) poses for a picture during media day at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

What’s The Big Man Rotation?<\/h3>\n

After being in and out of the lineup to start his career, forward-center Zeke Nnaji<\/a> found firmer footing towards the end of the 2024-25 season. However, he sat out until the second half in the Nuggets preseason opener. When he did get in, Nnaji tallied four points, two rebounds, one assist and one steal in 12 minutes. Versatility aside, he went 2-6 from the field and 0-2 from 3.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, after being forced to sit out for the entirety of 2024-25 due to injury, DaRon Holmes II<\/a> was on the court for nine minutes in Denver’s preseason opener against the Minnesota Timberwolves. In his playing time, he tallied five points, two assists and one rebounds. He took just three field goals, making one of his two 3-point attempts and heading to the free-throw line after getting fouled on a 2-point attempt.<\/p>\n

Both were thought to be in line for minutes behind Aaron Gordon<\/a> or Nikola Jokic<\/a> entering the offseason. Yet, Peyton Watson<\/a> was the one who subbed in for Gordon, reprising a role he’s played throughout his young career. Possessing more quick-twitch athleticism than either Nnaji or Holmes, he’s capable of mimicking Gordon as a cutter and multi-positional defender. So far as Jonas Valanciunas<\/a>, he’s set to be Jokic’s first Euro-style backup since Jusuf Nurkic<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Of course, Nnaji or Holmes could still be used situationally. Outside of 6-foot-8 and 215-pound Kessler Edwards<\/a>, who was asked to play center for the injury-decimated Dallas Mavericks last season, they’re the Nuggets only athletic, floor-spacing bigs.<\/p>\n

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Sep 29, 2025; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Nuggets players Jonas Valanciunas (17) and Julian Strawther (3) address the media during media day at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

What’s Julian Strawther’s Next Step?<\/h3>\n

Julian Strawther<\/a> played 18 minutes in the Nuggets preseason opener, tied with Watson for the second-most minutes behind Jokic. He finished the game with seven points and three rebounds. Surprisingly, he took six attempts but only one from 3-point range. Keep in mind, he has a career 57.5% 3-point attempt rate.<\/p>\n

This begs the question: was that a one-off or a sign of what’s to come?<\/p>\n

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Adelman on what he expects out of Julian Strawther<\/p>\n

\u201cJulian is a scorer. The next step is to make plays for others. When you find the paint it can\u2019t always just be a shot.\u201d<\/p>\n

Went on to see that he\u2019s gotten stronger this summer. pic.twitter.com\/xtAfaKdpfa<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Duvalier Johnson (@DuvalierJohnson) October 3, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n