Julian Strawther Bio
Julian Lee Strawther-Cordero (born April 18, 2002) is an American professional basketball player for the Denver Nuggets of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Standing 6 feet 6 inches tall and listed at 205 pounds, he plays the shooting guard position and wears jersey number 3. He played college basketball for the Gonzaga Bulldogs from 2020 to 2023 before being selected in the first round of the 2023 NBA draft.
A native of Las Vegas, Nevada, Strawther represents Puerto Rico at the international level because of his mother’s heritage. After three seasons at Gonzaga, he joined Denver and quickly developed into a rotation player. His combination of size, scoring touch, and late-game poise has made him a notable young figure in the league.
Early Life and Background
Julian Lee Strawther-Cordero was born on April 18, 2002, in Las Vegas, Nevada, and grew up in nearby Henderson. He attended Liberty High School, where he became one of the most productive scorers in the program’s history. His family background shaped his early years, including the influence of his older sister, Paris, who went on to play college basketball for the UNLV Rebels.
When Strawther was nine years old, his mother, Lourdes, passed away from breast cancer. That experience became a driving force behind his work ethic and his dedication to basketball. His paternal grandfather, Edward, served as a lieutenant colonel in World War II and later helped found the Las Vegas Sentinel, one of two African-American newspapers in Nevada. These family ties gave Strawther a strong sense of identity and motivation as he pursued the sport.
Path to Basketball
Strawther’s journey to higher-level basketball began at Liberty High School, where he emerged as a leading scorer in the Southeast League. As a junior, he averaged 27.3 points and 8.8 rebounds per game, and his senior year brought averages of 31.5 points, 11.1 rebounds, and 2.2 assists, along with Southeast League co-MVP honors. He set an event record by scoring 51 points against Apollo High School at the HoopHall West Invitational and finished as Liberty’s all-time leader in points and rebounds.
Recognized as a consensus four-star recruit, Strawther chose to play college basketball at Gonzaga, turning down offers from Marquette, Florida, and UNLV. Internationally, he represented Puerto Rico at the 2019 FIBA Under-19 World Cup, averaging 22 points and 6.1 rebounds per game and recording 40 points, 10 rebounds, and four assists in a fifth-place loss to Russia. Those experiences prepared him for the physical and competitive demands of college basketball in the West Coast Conference.
Julian Strawther Career
Early Career (2020–2021)
Strawther joined the Gonzaga Bulldogs for the 2020–2021 season and settled into a reserve role behind starter Corey Kispert. As a freshman, he averaged 3.4 points per game while learning the system of one of the most consistent programs in college basketball. The Bulldogs reached the national championship game that year, giving Strawther early exposure to high-stakes competition.
He showed flashes of his scoring ability on November 15, 2021, when he posted 18 points in an 84–57 win over Alcorn State. That performance hinted at the offensive potential he would refine in later seasons and helped him earn more minutes as a sophomore.
Gonzaga Breakthrough (2021–2023)
During his sophomore season, Strawther became a more consistent contributor, averaging 11.8 points and 5.4 rebounds per game. He declared for the 2022 NBA draft following the year but ultimately withdrew and returned to Gonzaga to continue developing his game.
His junior season marked his real arrival as a college star. On January 28, 2023, he scored a career-high 40 points in an 82–67 victory over Portland. In the 2023 NCAA tournament against UCLA, Strawther drained a 35-foot basket to take the lead with six seconds remaining, and Gonzaga held on to advance to the quarterfinals. He finished the year averaging 15.2 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 1.3 assists per game, earning First Team All-West Coast Conference honors before declaring for the 2023 NBA draft.
Denver Nuggets Era (2023–Present)
Strawther was selected with the 29th overall pick in the 2023 NBA draft by the Indiana Pacers and was immediately traded to the Denver Nuggets. He signed his rookie contract on July 6, 2023, and joined a contender coming off a championship window. He also spent time with the Grand Rapids Gold, Denver’s NBA G League affiliate, during the 2024 season to continue his development.
In his second NBA season, Strawther became a more prominent part of the Nuggets’ rotation, averaging over 20 minutes per game. He set a new career high with 23 points against the Philadelphia 76ers on January 21, 2025. During the 2025 playoffs, in a second-round matchup against the Oklahoma City Thunder, he scored 15 pivotal points in the final 14 minutes of Game 6 to keep Denver’s season alive, even though the Nuggets ultimately fell in Game 7.
Driving Style and Strengths
Strawther is a 6-foot-6 shooting guard with a smooth outside shot and the size to finish over defenders in the paint. He is comfortable launching from well beyond the arc, as shown by his 35-foot go-ahead basket against UCLA, and he has continued to stretch defenses at the NBA level. His ability to play off screens, attack closeouts, and contribute on the boards makes him a versatile piece for Denver’s offense.
Notable Events and Milestones
Key moments in Strawther’s career include his 40-point outburst against Portland, his game-winning deep shot versus UCLA in the 2023 NCAA tournament, his career-high 23 points against the Philadelphia 76ers, and his clutch fourth-quarter scoring run against the Oklahoma City Thunder in the 2025 playoffs. He was also a first-round draft pick and an All-WCC first-team selection in 2023.
Julian Strawther Career Wins
Strawther’s résumé is built on individual scoring milestones, postseason moments, and selection to elite honors rather than championship trophies. His defining wins include game-changing performances at the high school, college, and professional levels.
Gonzaga Highlights
At Gonzaga, Strawther’s signature win came in the 2023 NCAA tournament, when his late three-pointer against UCLA sent the Bulldogs to the quarterfinals. Earlier that season, his 40-point performance powered an 82–67 win over Portland. He earned First Team All-West Coast Conference honors in 2023, capping a junior campaign in which he averaged 15.2 points per game.
Other Wins and Performances
At Liberty High School, Strawther led his team to a series of strong showings, including a 51-point game at the HoopHall West Invitational. For Puerto Rico’s Under-19 national team, he delivered a 40-point, 10-rebound effort at the 2019 FIBA Under-19 World Cup, highlighting his international scoring ability.
Julian Strawther Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Strawther comes from a family with deep roots in service and athletics. His paternal grandfather, Edward, was a lieutenant colonel in World War II and helped found the Las Vegas Sentinel, one of two African-American newspapers in Nevada. His older sister, Paris, played college basketball at UNLV, continuing the family’s connection to the sport.
Personal Life
Strawther lost his mother, Lourdes, to breast cancer when he was nine years old, an experience he has often cited as motivation in his career. He maintains close ties to his family and spends time between Denver and his hometown of Las Vegas.
2025 Season Performance
Julian Strawther’s 2024–2025 season marked his most significant step forward in the NBA. He emerged as a regular contributor for the Denver Nuggets, averaging more than 20 minutes per game and providing reliable scoring and rebounding off the bench. His career-high 23 points against the Philadelphia 76ers on January 21, 2025, demonstrated the offensive strides he had made in his second professional year.
Strawther’s most memorable 2025 moment came in the playoffs. In Game 6 of the second-round series against the Oklahoma City Thunder, he scored 15 points in the final 14 minutes to keep Denver’s season alive, even though the Nuggets were ultimately eliminated in Game 7. The performance underscored his growing confidence in high-pressure situations.
Looking ahead, Strawther is expected to remain an important part of Denver’s rotation as the Nuggets pursue another deep postseason run. His continued development as a shooter and secondary creator will likely play a key role in the team’s long-term plans.
