Nuggets don't need Jonas Valanciunas as rookie proves ready to take over

Worth the wait.

Jordanna Clark

Denver Nuggets, DaRon Holmes II / Justin Edmonds/GettyImages

For the first time in almost a year, DaRon Holmes II suited up in a game on Thursday for the Denver Nuggets. It was just Summer League, but that didn't make the occasion any less memorable for the 22-year-old, who tore his Achilles in his first Summer League game last year. Holmes' second-ever Summer League game went much better than the first, so much so that it made fans think less about the Jonas Valanciunas situation.

Denver traded Dario Saric for Valanciunas in a move that seemed too good to be true. It turns out that it might be, as Valanciunas is interested in leaving the NBA and returning to Europe. The Nuggets expect him to honor his NBA contract. That situation is still in flux.

In the meantime, fans are enjoying watching Holmes. He finished with 15 points on 6-of-9 shooting from the field and 3-of-5 from three, four rebounds, and one block in 24 minutes.

Worth the wait

That’s a DaRon triple 🫡 pic.twitter.com/1dPjwXMD5s
— Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) July 11, 2025

The Nuggets lost to the Bucks on a buzzer-beater, 90-89, but that didn't take away from Holmes' special night.

DaRon Holmes II impressed for Nuggets after returning from injury

Denver traded for Holmes in the 2024 NBA Draft, sending Phoenix the No. 28 pick (Ryan Dunn), the No. 56 pick, a 2026 second-round pick, and a 2031 second-round pick. The Nuggets had their sights set on Holmes, and they got their guy. He was going to give Denver a player who could step up with Jokic off the court, but he didn't get the chance to do that in 2024-25.

Now, Holmes will get to compete for backup center minutes, whether Valanciunas stays in Denver or not. The more insurance that the Nuggets have, the better. As impressive as Holmes was, he's still technically a rookie. Denver might not need Valanciunas, but having another veteran on the bench wouldn't hurt.

Extra depth is never a bad thing, especially not for a team gearing up to make another championship run.

Holmes will get to be part of that this go-round. Summer League is just Summer League, but Holmes is proving that he's ready to take on the challenge.

Valanciunas or not, the Nuggets will be fine.

Jordanna Clark

Jordanna Clark is a full-time editor in the NBA Division of FanSided. She started as a fellow and earned a full-time position in November 2021, running Daily Knicks for three years before moving on to cover the entire league. She graduated from the University of North Carolina in 2018. Her past stops include Georgetown University and the Washington Commanders. In her spare time, Jordanna enjoys watching the Steelers (depending on the week), reading, going to yoga, and running.