Julian Strawther is a 23-year-old second-year guard for the Denver Nuggets, selected 29th overall in the 2023 NBA Draft out of Gonzaga University. Born on April 18, 2002, in Las Vegas, Nevada, Strawther is of Puerto Rican and American descent and represents Puerto Rico internationally, notably averaging 22 points at the 2019 FIBA U19 World Cup. At Gonzaga, he earned a reputation as a sharpshooter, highlighted by a buzzer-beating game-winner in the 2023 NCAA Tournament Sweet 16, cementing his March Madness legacy. In his rookie NBA season, he averaged 4.5 points in 10.9 minutes across 50 games, but injuries, including knee and ankle issues, limited his role. In the 2024-25 regular season, he improved to 9.0 points, 2.2 rebounds, and 1.3 assists over 65 games, starting four, with a 34.9% three-point shooting rate in 21.3 minutes per game.[](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julian_Strawther)[](https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nba/nuggets/2025/05/16/julian-strawther-nuggets-thunder-game-6/83661836007/)
**Big Role in Game 6 Win vs. Thunder**
On May 15, 2025, Strawther emerged as an unlikely hero in the Nuggets’ 119-107 Game 6 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder, forcing a Game 7 in their Western Conference semifinal series. With Denver facing elimination, Strawther erupted for a playoff-career-high 15 points, all in the second half, in 20 minutes off the bench. His third-quarter flurry—eight points on perfect 3-of-3 shooting, including two three-pointers and a layup during a 10-0 run—broke an 80-80 tie and gave Denver an eight-point lead entering the fourth. He finished with 4-of-8 field goals, 3-of-4 from three, outscoring any Thunder player in three-pointers made. Nuggets interim coach David Adelman praised his offensive spark and defensive solidity, noting, “Julian held water defensively, too,” a critical contribution against stars like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Aaron Gordon added, “I don’t think that’s something they game-planned for.”[]
Strawther’s performance, dubbed “The Julian Strawther Game” by NBA TV, went viral, with fans on X lauding his season-saving effort. Despite entering Game 6 with just 17 total playoff points across seven games, his clutch shooting and hustle—evidenced by losing a crown in the fourth quarter—ignited Ball Arena. With injuries like Aaron Gordon’s hamstring concern and Jamal Murray battling illness, Strawther’s emergence was timely, complementing Nikola Jokić’s 29 points and Christian Braun’s 23. His Game 6 heroics position him as a potential X-factor for Game 7 on May 18, 2025, in Oklahoma City.[]
