Julian Lee Strawther is a Puerto Rican-American professional basketball player for the Denver Nuggets of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for Gonzaga Bulldogs of the West Coast Conference (WCC).
Strawther is known for his versatile shooting skills and his impressive performance in the 2023 NCAA tournament. Here are some facts about his life and career.
Julian Strawther, a 6-foot-7 forward from Gonzaga University, has signed a four-year contract with the Denver Nuggets. The contract is worth $12,484,731 in total, with all of it guaranteed. Strawther was the 24th pick in the 2023 NBA draft and the Nuggets’ only selection.
Julian Strawther has an estimated net worth of $1 million as of now.
Strawther will earn an average annual salary of $3,121,183 during his contract. His base salary for the 2023-24 season is $2,431,080, which is also his cap hit and dead cap value.
Strawther is expected to play a significant role for the Nuggets, who are looking to contend for the NBA title with a healthy roster.
Julian Strawther was born in Las Vegas, Nevada, and attended Liberty High School in Henderson, Nevada. He was a powerful scorer and rebounder, averaging 27.3 points and 8.8 rebounds per game as a junior and 31.5 points and 11.1 rebounds per game as a senior.
The Star received Southeast League co-MVP honors in his final season and established an event record with 51 points against Apollo High School at the HoopHall West Invitational. He concluded his high school career as the all-time leader in points and rebounds for Liberty High School.
Strawther was a consensus four-star recruit and ranked among the top 100 players in the nation by various scouting services. He received offers from several colleges, including Marquette, Florida, and UNLV, but he chose to commit to Gonzaga, where he was attracted by the winning culture and the coaching staff.
Strawther joined Gonzaga in 2020 and played as a backup to Corey Kispert, who was later drafted by the Washington Wizards. He averaged 3.4 points per game in his freshman year, helping his team reach the national championship game, where they lost to Baylor.
Julian Strawther has a career as an NBA professional. Image Source: Instagram@julianstrawther
In his sophomore year, he became a starter and increased his production to 11.8 points and 5.4 rebounds per game. He shot 49.8 percent from the field and 36.5 percent from the three-point line. He declared for the 2022 NBA draft but decided to return to Gonzaga for his junior year.
In his junior year, he had a breakout season, averaging 18.6 points and 6.7 rebounds per game. He led the WCC in scoring and was named to the first-team All-WCC. He also improved his shooting efficiency to 51.7 percent from the field and 40.8 percent from the three-point line.
The athlete He scored a career-high 40 points against Portland on January 28, 2023, and made a clutch 35-foot shot to beat UCLA in the NCAA tournament quarterfinals. His team advanced to the Final Four but lost to Michigan in the semifinals.
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When the 2023 NBA draft rolled around, Strawther was one of the top shooters eligible for selection. Most mock drafts saw him being selected either late in the first round or early in the second. Originally taken with the 29th overall pick by the Indiana Pacers, he was dealt to the Denver Nuggets that same night in exchange for a future second-round pick and financial considerations.
On October 10, 2023, he made his NBA debut in a preseason game against the Phoenix Suns. In just 21 minutes off the bench, he shot 8-12 from the field and made 4-7 from long range for a total of 20 points, a game-high.
The star wowed coach Michael Malone and the rest of the team with his ability to shoot from a variety of distances. His other abilities, such as passing, rebounding, and defense, were on display as well.
With Michael Porter Jr. out with an ankle injury, he should have a shot at playing time in the Nuggets' rotation. Since he can score from all around the court, he is often compared to players like Klay Thompson, Joe Harris, and Duncan Robinson. And he wants to get better at other things, too, including handling the ball, making plays, and defending the basket.
Strawther honors his mother’s Puerto Rican heritage by playing for the national team of the island. He made his debut for Puerto Rico at the 2019 FIBA Under-19 World Cup, where he averaged 22 points and 6.1 rebounds per game, leading his team to a sixth-place finish.
In addition, he had a remarkable performance against Russia in the fifth-place game, scoring 40 points, grabbing 10 rebounds, and dishing out four assists.
The NBA star is expected to be a key player for Puerto Rico in future competitions, such as the FIBA AmeriCup qualifiers and the FIBA World Cup qualifiers. He has expressed his pride and honor in playing for Puerto Rico and hopes to inspire other young players from his heritage.
Julian Strawther has not revealed anything about his personal life to the public. He does not post any details about his relationship status on social media or in interviews.
Julian Strawther with his two sisters.
Some fans have wondered if Strawther has a partner, but there is no proof to back up this assumption. He is currently concentrating on his basketball career and has not commented on his relationship status.
Strawther is a private person, so he probably will not share his relationship status with the public until he feels comfortable doing so.
Julian Strawther was born on April 18, 2002, in Las Vegas, Nevada. He grew up with two siblings, both sisters named Paris and Paige Strawther. His parents were both supportive and influential in his basketball career.
His father, Lee Strawther, is a former basketball player who played for UNLV and professionally in Europe. He also worked as a sports agent and a radio host. He taught Julian the fundamentals of the game and encouraged him to pursue his dreams.
Strawther's mother, Lourdes Cordero was a loving and caring person who cheered for Julian at every game. She passed away in 2011 after battling breast cancer for four years. Julian has said that he plays for her and wants to make her proud.
