\u201cObviously, I\u2019m comfortable playing off the ball and playing in pin-downs, close-outs, things like that as a spot-up shooter,\u201d he said last week.<\/p>\n
Then there\u2019s the Strawther of the mind, a more aspirational version of the 24-year-old and possibly a more necessary version this season. He\u2019s flashed before, and he\u2019s announcing his presence again this preseason. This is the Strawther who\u2019s occasionally asked to play with the ball in his hands, to use his yo-yo-like handles to penetrate the paint and create an advantage.<\/p>\n
\u201cI feel real comfortable in those positions,\u201d he said. \u201cThose are spots that the coaching staff has been putting me in all summer and preparing me for, just in case I\u2019m needed for those ball-handling responsibilities. But I know what my main role on this squad is. I\u2019m gonna try to execute that at a high level.\u201d<\/p>\n
The 2026-27 Nuggets have a shortage of guard depth. It took just one preseason game to reveal that. Jamal Murray was out for personal reasons against Utah, throwing Tyus Jones into the starting lineup and new two-way signee Ryan Nembhard into backup point guard duties. Strawther also ended up in the mix throughout a 109-97 loss last Sunday, especially when Nembhard got into foul trouble.<\/p>\n
\u201cWith Jamal not playing, it was almost a good way to force us to do stuff like that with Jules,\u201d coach David Adelman said. \u201c\u2026 Some of that chase action stuff where you throw it ahead and get it back, if he gets to his right hand, we all know how successful he can be.\u201d<\/p>\n
Strawther led the team in scoring with 14 points on 13 shots that night. He followed it up with a more efficient 15-point performance Tuesday in Utah, where he continued to play on the ball quite a bit, even in lineups with Jones and DeMar DeRozan.<\/p>\n
The Nuggets know they\u2019re one Murray injury away from looking thin in the backcourt at any given moment. They\u2019ve been encouraging their shooting guards to develop as ball-handlers, knowing Strawther or Christian Braun might have to take on more table-setting responsibilities this season. Even when Murray is available \u2014 which was almost every game last year \u2014 Adelman\u2019s goal is not to overburden the star guard. Role players like Braun and Strawther are less likely to be picked up full-court than Murray, assuming they\u2019re guarded by lesser defenders.<\/p>\n
The extent of Braun\u2019s on-ball usage will probably be to bring it up the court, which he\u2019s done before, or to attack the rim in straight-line drives when the defense is scrambling to rotate. Strawther has a bit more natural creativity off the bounce. He\u2019s always been comfortable getting to his floater. He has a spindly style of sizing up a defender with his dribble, always trying to glide downhill to his right. The \u201cchase action\u201d referenced by Adelman is a simple but reliable setup \u2014 the guard feeds his big at the elbow, then chases his own pass to receive a handoff with momentum.<\/p>\n
Strawther says he still needs to diversify what he can do with the ball in those situations, though.<\/p>\n
![\"Denver](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/AP26280126162779.jpg\")
Denver Nuggets guard Julian Strawther sets the play during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Utah Jazz, Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2026, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo\/Tyler Tate)<\/p>\n
\u201cI think a lot of the time for me, I\u2019m just a natural scorer. So being put in them playmaking situations, I\u2019m thinking score first,\u201d he said. \u201cJust trying to be more of a playmaker, being able to make plays for guys. Hit the roller. Hit the skip (pass). Things like that.\u201d<\/p>\n
His processing speed will be the key to that development. Seeing the entire court while operating with the ball can be deceptively difficult for young NBA players. Call it high-speed multitasking. Peyton Watson was faced with it last year, when his role as a ball-handler increased. His scoring skyrocketed; his decision-making remained a bit inconsistent.<\/p>\n
Now, Strawther understands he\u2019ll need to overcome his own tunnel vision if he wants to fully expand that aspect of his game. He showed signs of progress Tuesday, twice getting into the paint, collapsing the defense and spraying an assist to Alpha Diallo in the corner.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s reading the help side and low man and understanding who\u2019s helping from where, what (offensive player) guys are helping off of,\u201d Strawther said. \u201cIf you\u2019ve got a guy like Cam Johnson in the corner, you want to fire it early so he can get a clean look.\u201d<\/p>\n
As he considers those next steps, Strawther also realizes his primary job is to polish what he\u2019s already got, a quick-trigger jump shot that has improved each year in the league. As a rookie, he converted only 29.7% of his 3s. Then, 34.9% of them. Then last season, 38.7%, albeit with a drop in attempts. He played 861 total minutes, down from 1,384 in his second year. He dealt with back pain for multiple months. The more experienced Hardaway took his spot in the rotation.<\/p>\n
He has a chance to get that spot back in a contract year. Entering Nuggets training camp, Strawther said he and the team hadn\u2019t discussed an extension yet. If no deal materializes by Oct. 19, he\u2019ll go to restricted free agency next summer. The impression he leaves before then could determine his future in the NBA.<\/p>\n
\u201cSuper grateful for the opportunity to fight for more opportunity, more playing time,\u201d he said. \u201cRight now, my main focus is just finding ways to contribute and be a guy who\u2019s out there consistently.\u201d<\/p>\n
Whichever version of himself it might be that accomplishes that.<\/p>\n