Las Vegas – The Denver Nuggets expect Julian Strawther to make a significant improvement in his sophomore season, and he will leave NBA Summer League with renewed confidence following a great performance by the former Gonzaga wing and first-round lottery pick.
Strawther’s performance in the first two games, as well as a slight ankle issue, may have influenced Denver’s decision to rest the second-year wing before Tuesday’s game against the Charlotte Hornets.
Strawther had previously tied with Jordan Miller of the Los Angeles Clippers for the Summer League scoring lead at 28.5 points per game, scoring 25 in Friday’s opener and 32 on Sunday against the Toronto Raptors.
Strawther scored 57 points in two games, going 17 of 40 from the field, 9 of 22 from three, and adding eight rebounds and six assists. Strawther’s 8.5 field goals per game placed second in Vegas, trailing only All-Rookie Miami Heat wing Jaime Jaquez Jr., while his 4.5 3-pointers per game ranked fifth out of 349 players.
Strawther was still in attendance for Denver’s 80-66 loss to Charlotte on Tuesday, although he was dressed casually and sported a silver necklace while observing from the end of the Nuggets’ bench at Cox Pavilion.
During a midgame interview on ESPN, Nuggets coach Michael Malone stated that Strawther, along with third-year player Christian Braun, will compete for a starting spot next season after the team lost starting shooting guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope to free agency.
“I just want to keep expanding my game and showing other aspects of what I’m capable of, as well as coming out here and playing ball and gaining reps,” Strawther told Altitude TV on Tuesday. “It’s an opportunity to play basketball, and obviously, following my injury in January, I didn’t get much time on the floor. So I’ve been looking forward to getting on the floor.”
Franks reaches double digits.
Former Washington State wing Robert Franks capitalized on limited opportunities in his second Summer League game with the Phoenix Suns, scoring in double figures in a 98-94 loss to the Indiana Pacers.
Franks scored 10 points off the bench in 19 minutes, going 4 of 7 from the field and 2 of 5 from three. The Vancouver, Washington native, who played professionally last season for the Nagoya Diamond Dolphins of Japan’s B.League, also had five rebounds, two assists, one steal, and one turnover in the game.
Franks was held to three points on 1 of 4 shooting in the Suns’ Summer League opening against the Golden State Warriors, while also recording five rebounds, one assist, and two turnovers.
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