The Denver Nuggets struggled throughout the 2024-25 season to find the right combination of bench players, but Julian Strawther just proved that he's been there all along to fix the issue. A 2023 first-round draft pick, Strawther quietly made strides in year two that unfortunately failed to translate to postseason minutes.
With Denver's season on the line, however, Strawther proved that the future is far brighter than even the Nuggets may have realized.
The Nuggets have developed a reputation for being [a team with lackluster depth](https://nugglove.com/painful-nuggets-stat-proves-roster-changes-must-made) beyond its excellent starting lineup. [It's an admittedly well-founded concern](https://nugglove.com/nuggets-tragic-flaw-ruins-jokic-masterpiece-worst-possible-time), as Denver ranked No. 27 in bench points per game during the 2024-25 regular season.
While there may be a limited number of players who can be trusted to anchor the second unit, one can't help but feel as though the Nuggets have limited their own potential.
The second unit may not be elite, but there are three high-level players who can be trusted for strong showings. Russell Westbrook is the polarizing sixth man who often steals headlines, and Peyton Watson has earned praise for his own development.
During a season-saving Game 6, Julian Strawther offered an essential reminder that Denver has an eight-man rotation that every team should respect—including the Nuggets themselves.
Julian Strawther proves Nuggets can go eight players deep
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Strawther was excellent on Game 6, posting 15 points and three three-point field goals made in 20 minutes of action. He stepped up with timely offense exactly when the Nuggets needed it, including a stretch during which he scored eight points in a period of one minute and 32.1 seconds.
That included a mesmerizing alley-oop layup that set the tone for what became a remarkable second half from both Strawther and the Nuggets alike.
Strawther's eight points in under two minutes were a part of a 10-0 run that the Nuggets utilized to claim momentum with the third quarter winding down. He then added another seven points in the fourth quarter, bringing his tally to 15 points in the final 13 minutes and 32.1 seconds of Game 6.
Against all odds, the Nuggets found a beacon of hope where they least expected it—but perhaps they should've known to look for it all along.
Strawther finished his second NBA season averaging 9.2 points per game and 15.3 points per 36 minutes. He improved his field goal percentage by 6.3 percent, his three-point field goal percentage by 5.2 percent, and his free-throw percentage by 11.2 percent from 2023-24 to 2024-25.
Strawther also stepped up with 27 games during which he scored at least 10 points—17 more than he recorded as a rookie—including a career-high 23.
Despite his dramatic improvement, Strawther has flown under the radar as a valuable contributor to the Nuggets' championship dreams. That underrated nature has translated to the postseason, as he'd played more than 10 minutes in a game just once prior to Game 6 against the Thunder.
Thankfully, the Nuggets allowed their undervalued depth to shine through at the perfect time for Strawther to save their season.