The Denver Nuggets drafted up in the 2024 NBA Draft for DaRon Holmes II, excited about his potential and the depth he'd give behind Nikola Jokić. That hype was short-lived, as Holmes suffered a torn right Achilles tendon in the Nuggets' first summer league game in Las Vegas. Holmes recovered during the 2024-25 season, watching from the sidelines.
Now, the 23-year-old is entering what's officially his first season. He had a strong summer league showing, bouncing back from the injury that kept him out for a year.
Denver addressed its need for depth this summer, somehow adding backup center Jonas Valančiūnas. There has been a lot of chatter about the Nuggets' retooled roster, which has overshadowed Holmes' return, but there is a reason why Denver moved up to draft him a year ago.
The role he will play for the Nuggets this season is not yet clear, but he hasn't been part of the second unit at training camp. As David Adelman noted, Holmes is adjusting to the quick pace of play and going up against players like Jokić and Valančiūnas. Holmes showed improvement between the first and second days of camp, which is, of course, a positive sign.
Asked David Adelman about DaRon Holmes II’s first two days of camp after the Nuggets kept the Brown/Strawther/Hardaway/Watson/Valanciunas second unit together for a second straight day. Here’s DA’s full answer: pic.twitter.com/x9NNMii342
— Vinny Benedetto (@VBenedetto) October 1, 2025
DaRon Holmes II's development will be key for the Nuggets
All that fans can hope for from Holmes right now is that he progresses throughout his first season. He couldn't be in a better position, learning from someone like Jokić, and going up against someone as physically imposing as Valančiūnas. That's quite an advantage for a rookie looking to establish himself in this league.
It doesn't look like he'll be a rotation player right away as he continues to get acquainted with playing against NBA-level competition, but he could end up in the rotation sometime during the season. When Holmes, who is six-foot-ten, does play, it could be either forward position, depending on the lineup, or, if Jokić or Valančiūnas miss time, he can play the five. His versatility gives Denver another weapon.
The Nuggets didn't have a pick in June's draft, and the front office didn't make a trade to change that, although that's an outcome many fans wanted to see. Denver still has a rookie who was a first-round pick, though.
When you think of the Nuggets' young players, the first names that come to mind are probably Christian Braun and Peyton Watson, but Holmes will start to earn more recognition now that he's healthy.