Julian Strawther Staying in Denver Through 2025-2026

It’s time to buy stock in Julian Strawther making a big jump in his second NBA season as the Denver Nuggets announced that they will be exercising his third-year option. That means the former Zag will be in the Mile High City through the 2025-2026 season. This move was expected, as the Nuggets need affordable rotation players for the next couple of seasons.

Strawther will earn $2.55 million this season and nearly $2.7 million the following season. Denver holds a club option after that. In his rookie campaign, Strawther averaged 4.5 PPG and 1.2 RPG in 10.9 MPG through 50 games.

During this past NBA Summer League, he averaged 28.5 PPG on 40.9 3PT% which was the most in his hometown of Las Vegas. Through two preseason games with the Nuggets so far, Strawther has averaged 14 PPG on 50.0 FG%/37.5 3PT% to go along with 2.0 RPG and 1.5 APG.

With his all-around offensive skills to hit off the dribble, coming off screens/cuts/curls/flares and catch-and-shoot from pretty much anywhere on the floor, he really stretches opposing defenses out. Every Gonzaga fan knows about Strawther’s pull-up ability in transition and his lethal floater. He’s an underrated perimeter defender and looks to continue to show off his upside on that side of the floor this season.

Is Strawther a possible Most Improved Player of the Year candidate? Sure seems so with Kentavious Caldwell-Pope moving on to the Orlando Magic and leaving a hole at the shooting guard spot.

Arden Cravalho is a Gonzaga University graduate from the Bay Area… Follow him on Twitter @a_cravalho