For a while, it seemed like the Nuggets might be having the most concerning preseason of any team in the NBA. They dropped their first four contests, including a lot of action against teams’ backups. They were getting dominated from behind the three-point line, looked to be lacking for energy and fitness, and lacked effort on the defensive end.
On top of that, Jamal Murray looked as bad as ever, failing to contribute much, hit shots, or even stay on the court. For a team that should have had plenty of motivation and time to stew and get ready, the Nuggets looked anything but.
Nuggets finally break out in 5th preseason game
But finally, Denver seemed to get things together in their fifth and final preseason game. They pulled out their first win, but more importantly, they looked good and got Murray going. Jamal had a big game and looked far better than he has at any time in the past few months.
This was a much-needed result and all-around effort as things had been getting dicey in Denver. It wouldn’t have been fair to push the panic button due to preseason results, but these games were extremely concerning because all of the feared weaknesses were being exposed and sticking out like sore thumbs.
Julian Strawther explodes, leads NBA in preseason scoring
Perhaps lost in the shuffle with Murray’s big game and the Nuggets finally getting off the schneid, was the massive showing by Julain Strawther. Strawther was the breakout star of the preseason, not just for the Nuggets, but for the entire league.
Led the league in preseason buckets 📈 pic.twitter.com/rCqntYG0j8
— Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) October 19, 2024
Each of his showings was impressive, but with his 33 in the final game, he ended up leading the entire league in preseason points on the year. This is an incredible development for a team that is dying for one of their young players to emerge. There was optimism that Strawther could be a rotation player this season, but it appears he can be much more.
Strawther looks like a polished scorer and promising shooter, but he has shown all-around offensive chops in a number of areas. He also has great size for a perimeter player and is able to make things happen on both ends with his length and athleticism.
The Nuggets don’t need Strawther to be an all-star this season, but if he can give them consistent offense off the bench, that would be a huge boost. It’s still early, but these early returns are promising. It looks like the Nuggets have found something, and it couldn’t come at a better time.