NBA
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#3

Julian Strawther

Guard · Denver Nuggets · 6'6", 205 lb · Born Apr 18, 2002 · Las Vegas, Nevada · Drafted 29th overall, 2023
Denver NuggetsReserve
NBADenver NuggetsGuards
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In short

Julian Strawther is a bench-scoring wing and shooter for the Denver Nuggets. A Las Vegas native who starred at Gonzaga — hitting a famous clutch three against UCLA in the 2023 NCAA tournament — he was drafted 29th in 2023 (via Indiana). He represents Puerto Rico internationally and provides instant offense off Denver's bench, averaging 7.2 points in 2025-26.

Matchup model · next gameLow confidenceTue, Nov 10
vsOklahoma City ThunderSwitch-heavy
Out for Oklahoma City Thunder: Chet Holmgren — coverage adjusts below.
Proj. points
7.1
range 4.4–9.8
Line 7
52%
to go over
Team win
63%
116–113
Poi 7.1 Lean overReb 2 Lean overAss 1.1 Lean overPRA 10.3 Lean under
Likely on himAlex Caruso· 94 Perimeter DElite stopper
5+ pts76%10+ pts17%

Model lines Strawther at 7.1 pts (range 4.4–9.8) vs a 7 line — a lean to clear it (52%).

Biggest edge: venue — home floor — small boost.

Full matchup breakdown · all markets →
Balladex Matchup Model — modeled from real roster ratings, scoring baselines & defender-matchup history. Schedule, availability & head-to-head samples are illustrative in this prototype; production wires live schedule, injury & player-tracking feeds. Not betting advice.
✦ Ask anything about Strawther
The Strawther Story — narrated
Tap play to hear his story, told as a 90-second short.
🔊 Prototype uses your browser's built-in voice. Production would use a studio-grade AI narrator.

A Vegas kid who never met a shot he didn't like — and hit one of the loudest of the 2023 NCAA tournament.

Strawther set scoring records around Las Vegas before becoming a knockdown wing at Gonzaga, where his 35-foot dagger sank UCLA in the 2023 tournament.

🎰 Las Vegas · GonzagaDagger vs UCLA

Indiana drafted him 29th in 2023 and sent his rights to Denver, where he's grown into a bench scoring option.

Drafted 29th, 2023

He represents Puerto Rico internationally and provides instant offense off Denver's bench — 7.2 points a night in 2025-26.

🇵🇷 Puerto Rico7.2 PPG
— end of story —
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PPG
7.2
2025-26
RPG
2
per game
APG
1.1
per game
FG%
.467
.387 from three
LIFE

Roots & the rise

A Las Vegas sharpshooter out of Gonzaga — bench scoring punch and a big-moment shot-maker.

Strawther grew up in Las Vegas, set records at Liberty High School, and became a knockdown scorer at Gonzaga, where he hit a memorable 35-foot dagger against UCLA in the 2023 NCAA tournament. Denver acquired his rights after Indiana drafted him 29th overall in 2023.

He's developed into a reliable bench shooter and scoring wing, and represents Puerto Rico internationally through his mother's heritage.

Sources: Wikipedia.

BEYOND THE GAME

Beyond the game

Strawther's story runs through Las Vegas and Puerto Rico: a hometown scoring legend at Liberty High, he chose to represent Puerto Rico on the international stage through his mother's heritage, averaging 22 points at the 2019 FIBA Under-19 World Cup. His identity is simple and stable — he's a shooter who believes every one is going in, the kind of confident bench scorer a deep contender needs.

PERSONALITY

The person

A confident, shot-hunting scorer — bench offense with big-moment nerve.

Bench sniperVolume shooting and scoring punch off the pine.
Clutch pedigreeHit a famous 35-footer vs UCLA in the 2023 NCAA tournament.
Puerto RicoRepresents Puerto Rico internationally.
PLAYER DNA

Archetype & ratings

Archetype
Bench Shooter
Temperament
Spark
Leadership
40/100
Scoring62
Playmaking40
Rebounding45
Perimeter D50
Rim protection20
Spacing84
Athleticism62
Clutch55
Volume shootingBench scoring punch
ANALYSIS

What the numbers say

Bench scoring punch

Strawther's job is points in bunches: a confident, quick-trigger shooter (39% from three in 2025-26) who can carry a bench unit's offense for stretches. On a team whose non-star minutes can sag, that scoring pop — and his willingness to take and make big shots — is a useful weapon.

STATS

Season by season

Per game

SeasonGPMINPTSREBASTFG%3P%
2025-265715.17.22.01.1.467.387

Source: Basketball-Reference.

OUTLOOK

Where it's headed

AI-generated · updated July 12, 2026

Julian Strawther's 2025-26 value came from spacing and complementary scoring alongside Nikola Jokić.

2025-26 roleReserve
3-point shooting.387
Bottom line

A reserve on a 54-28 Nuggets team built around Nikola Jokić, with value rooted in spacing and complementary scoring.

FAQ

Quick answers

What country does Julian Strawther represent?

Puerto Rico, through his mother's heritage; he starred at the 2019 FIBA Under-19 World Cup.

Where did Julian Strawther go to college?

Gonzaga, where he hit a famous clutch three against UCLA in the 2023 NCAA tournament.