Julian Strawther

Julian Lee Strawther (born April 18, 2002) is an American professional basketball player for the Denver Nuggets of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for the Gonzaga Bulldogs.

Julian Strawther
Strawther with Gonzaga in 2021
No. 3 – Denver Nuggets
PositionSmall forward / shooting guard
LeagueNBA
Personal information
Born (2002-04-18) April 18, 2002
Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
NationalityAmerican
Listed height6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
Listed weight205 lb (93 kg)
Career information
High schoolLiberty (Henderson, Nevada)
CollegeGonzaga (2020–2023)
NBA draft2023: 1st round, 29th overall pick
Selected by the Indiana Pacers
Playing career2023–present
Career history
2023–presentDenver Nuggets
Career highlights and awards
  • First-team All-WCC (2023)
Stats  at NBA.com
Stats  at Basketball-Reference.com

High school career

Strawther played basketball for Liberty High School in Henderson, Nevada.[1] As a junior, he averaged 27.3 points and 8.8 rebounds per game.[2] In his senior season, he averaged 31.5 points, 11.1 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game, earning Southeast League co-MVP honors.[3] Strawther scored 51 points against Apollo High School at the HoopHall West Invitational, setting an event record.[4] He left as his school's all-time leader in points and rebounds.[5] A consensus four-star recruit, he committed to playing college basketball for Gonzaga over offers from Marquette, Florida and UNLV.[6]

College career

As a freshman at Gonzaga, Strawther averaged 3.4 points per game, serving as the backup to Corey Kispert. His team reached the national championship game.[7] On November 15, 2021, he scored 18 points in an 84–57 win over Alcorn State.[8] As a sophomore, Strawther averaged 11.8 points and 5.4 rebounds per game. He declared for the 2022 NBA draft following the season before ultimately returning to Gonzaga.[9]

On January 28, 2023, Strawther scored a career-high 40 points in an 82–67 victory over Portland.[10] In the 2023 NCAA tournament against UCLA, he made a 35-foot (11 m) basket for the lead with six seconds remaining, and Gonzaga held on for the win to advance to the quarterfinals.[11]

National team career

Although a native of Las Vegas, Strawther represents Puerto Rico at the international level due to his mother's Puerto Rican ancestry.[12] At the 2019 FIBA Under-19 World Cup, he averaged 22 points and 6.1 rebounds per game, helping his team finish in sixth place. He recorded 40 points, 10 rebounds and four assists in a loss to Russia in the fifth-place game.[13]

Career statistics
Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field goal percentage  3P%  3-point field goal percentage  FT%  Free throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game  Bold  Career high

College
Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2020–21 Gonzaga 2507.4.517.321.6961.2.0.2.03.4
2021–22 Gonzaga 323126.8.498.365.7055.41.0.5.211.8
2022–23 Gonzaga 373731.2.469.408.7766.21.3.8.415.2
Career 946823.4.484.384.7454.6.9.6.210.9

Personal life

When Strawther was nine years old his mother, Lourdes, died from breast cancer.[14] His older sister, Paris, played college basketball for UNLV.[15] Strawther's paternal grandfather, Edward, was a lieutenant colonel who served in World War II, and formed the Las Vegas Sentinel, one of two African-American newspapers in Nevada.[12]

References
  1. Tritsch, Jon (July 21, 2018). "Julian Strawther: 16 years old and about to turn legendary". KLAS-TV. Retrieved November 17, 2021.
  2. Meehan, Jim (November 13, 2019). "Longtime commits Julian Strawther, Dominick Harris officially sign with Gonzaga". The Spokesman-Review. Retrieved November 17, 2021.
  3. Orts, Jason (March 20, 2020). "2019-20 Nevada Preps All-Southern Nevada boys basketball team". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved November 17, 2021.
  4. Burlison, Frank (December 8, 2019). "HoopHall West record collected by Julian Strawther". Burlison on Basketball. Retrieved November 17, 2021.
  5. Powe, Teresa (November 17, 2021). "Zags Wednesday: Spotlight on Julian Strawther". Pacific Northwest Sports. Retrieved November 17, 2021.
  6. Gordon, Sam (April 18, 2019). "Liberty basketball star Julian Strawther commits to Gonzaga". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved November 17, 2021.
  7. Gordon, Sam (March 19, 2021). "Liberty's Julian Strawther relishes run with No. 1 Gonzaga". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved November 17, 2021.
  8. "Strawther scores 18 as No. 1 Gonzaga tops Alcorn State 84–57". ESPN. Associated Press. November 15, 2021. Retrieved November 17, 2021.
  9. Brewer, Ray (April 18, 2022). "Gonzaga star Las Vegas' Julian Strawther declares for NBA draft". Las Vegas Sun. Retrieved February 1, 2023.
  10. "Strawther has 40, No. 14 Gonzaga downs Portland 82-67". ESPN. Associated Press. January 28, 2023. Retrieved February 1, 2023.
  11. Bolch, Ben (March 23, 2023). "Jubilation turns into heartbreak as UCLA loses to Gonzaga again in NCAA tournament". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved March 24, 2023.
  12. Graney, Ed (June 11, 2020). "Activist nature part of Julian Strawther's family history". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved November 17, 2021.
  13. "Strawther's 40 points ranks tied for ninth in U19 World Cup history". FIBA. July 7, 2019. Retrieved November 17, 2021.
  14. Greene, Brenna (March 9, 2020). "'Everything I do is for her': Gonzaga commit Julian Strawther's late mother impacts him on and off court". KREM. Retrieved November 17, 2021.
  15. Grimala, Mike (January 16, 2018). "For prized UNLV recruiting target Julian Strawther, growing up is a team effort". Las Vegas Sun. Retrieved November 17, 2021.
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