As a late first-round pick, former Gonzaga star Julian Strawther knew that his path to earning meaningful minutes as a rookie with the Denver Nuggets would likely be through his defensive efforts.
Offensively, the Nuggets already have a strong duo in Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray, who excel at their patented two-man game. However, the team's bench has thinned out since last season's title run, especially in terms of offensive production. The role that Strawther would play with the second unit was uncertain, but in the three preseason games so far, he has emerged as the go-to reserve, averaging an impressive 19.7 points per game on 50% shooting from deep.
Strawther demonstrated his potential to carve out a solid role off the bench as a rookie in Sunday's game against the Chicago Bulls.
Early in the game, Strawther found himself covering the weak side of a pick-and-roll. However, he quickly recovered and made a perfectly timed block attempt on Bulls rookie Adama Sanogo, a former UConn standout. Strawther swatted away Sanogo's layup attempt, showcasing his defensive prowess.
Throughout his transition to the NBA level, Strawther has shown growth and maturity. He has improved his shooting since the Summer League and has played mistake-free basketball in exhibition play, with only one turnover in 66 minutes of action during the preseason. The offense has revolved around Strawther running off screens around the perimeter, using his scoring ability to provide an offensive boost that the Nuggets currently lack off the bench.
Strawther's aggressiveness and confidence have earned him valuable minutes as Denver's sixth man. While he may not draw as much attention from the defense when playing with the starters, he becomes the focal point of the second unit. The extent of Strawther's role in the regular season remains uncertain, but he is making a strong case as a valuable offensive weapon for head coach Michael Malone and the Nuggets.
