Strawther turns heads with his incredible shot-blocking ability
As a late first-round pick, former Gonzaga star Julian Strawther understands that if he wants to earn meaningful minutes as a rookie with the Denver Nuggets, that could come from his efforts on the defensive end.
Offensively, the Nuggets are doing very well with Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray running their patented two-man game with a talented supporting cast around them. The bench has thinned since last season’s championship, especially in terms of attack. It’s unclear what role Strawther will have on the team’s second unit, however, but through three preseason games, he’s been a reserve averaging 19.7 points per game on 50 percent shooting from deep. .
It’s true those results probably won’t carry over into the regular season, but on Sunday, Strawther showed why he can still carve out a solid role off the bench suffered when he was 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 his ability to quickly recover to the paint, Strawther timed his shot attempt by Bulls rookie and former UConn star Adama Sanogo perfectly as he used his hands to deflect the tall forward’s block attempt 6 feet 9 inches.
Strawther has shown growth and maturity throughout his transition to the NBA level. In addition to his improved shooting in Summer League, he also played error-free basketball in exhibition games with just one turnover in 66 minutes of preseason play. The offense revolves around him running off screens around the perimeter as he looks for his shot, a source of offense that Denver doesn’t currently have on its bench.
Strawther’s aggression and confidence helped him become Denver’s sixth man on Sunday. He didn’t get the full attention of the defense when he was on the field as a starter, but he became the focal point of the second unit. It’s unclear how much Strawther will appear in the regular season, though he’s considered a valuable offensive weapon for Michael Malone and the Nuggets.
