Julian Strawther shines for Denver Nuggets in NBA preseason
As a late first-round pick, former Gonzaga star Julian Strawther understood that if he was to earn meaningful minutes as a rookie with the Denver Nuggets, it was likely to come through his efforts on the defensive end.
Offensively, the Nuggets are just fine with Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray running their patented two-man game with a talented supporting cast around them. The bench had thinned out from last season's title run, especially in terms of offensive production. Still, it wasn't clear as to what role Strawther would have with the team's second unit, but through three preseason games, he's been the go-to reserve with 19.7 points per game on 50% shooting from deep.
Granted those outputs aren't likely to translate to the regular season, but on Sunday, Strawther showcased why he could still carve out a solid role off the bench as a rookie.
Early in Denver's third preseason game against the Chicago Bulls, Strawther was caught covering the weak side of a pick-and-roll. With a swift recovery down to the painted area, Strawther timed his block attempt on Bulls rookie and former UConn standout Adama Sanogo perfectly as he stuffed the 6-foot-9 forward's layup attempt right out of his hands.
Strawther has shown growth and maturity throughout his transition to the NBA level. Along with his improved shooting from the Summer League, he's played mistake-free basketball in exhibition play with just one turnover in 66 minutes of action in the preseason. The offense has revolved around him running off screens around the perimeter as he hunts for his shot, a source of offense that Denver currently lacks off the bench.
Strawther's aggressiveness and confidence earned him minutes as Denver's sixth man on Sunday. He doesn't have the defense's full attention when he's with the starters, but he becomes the focal point on the second unit. It's unclear how much Strawther will feature in the regular season, though he's making the case as a valuable offensive weapon for Michael Malone and the Nuggets.
