Nuggets Guard Julian Strawther Out Six Weeks with Sprained Left Knee

The Denver Nuggets will be without guard Julian Strawther for the start of the 2026-27 regular season after the team announced he will be sidelined for at least six weeks due to a sprained left knee. Strawther, who underwent an MRI on Thursday, October 15, is scheduled to be reevaluated in late November, a timeline that removes him from the rotation during the initial stretch of head coach David Adelman’s first season at the helm.

The injury occurred during the third quarter of Denver’s preseason matchup against the L.A. Clippers at the Intuit Dome on Wednesday, October 14. While the Denver Gazette reports that the MRI confirmed the sprain and ruled out season-ending ligament damage, the six-week recovery period means Strawther will likely remain out through the NBA Cup group stage in early December.

Strawther is scheduled for reevaluation in late November following a left knee sprain.

Roster and Rotation Adjustments

Strawther’s absence creates a significant void in Denver’s second unit. Before the injury, the 24-year-old was putting together a productive preseason, averaging 13.3 points per game and shooting 43.5% from three-point range. As the team’s leading perimeter threat off the bench, his ability to space the floor was expected to be a cornerstone of Adelman’s offensive schemes.

With Strawther unavailable, the Nuggets are expected to lean on Alpha Diallo and Cam Whitmore to absorb his bench minutes. Diallo, known for his defensive versatility as a former EuroLeague Best Defender, offers a different look than Strawther’s high-volume shooting. Whitmore is also positioned for an increased role, providing the athletic wing depth the Nuggets need to maintain their rotation balance during the season’s first quarter.

Contractual Timing

The injury comes at a particularly sensitive time for Strawther regarding his long-term future in Denver. The deadline for Strawther to sign a rookie-scale extension is Monday, October 19, just days after the diagnosis. As he enters his fourth NBA season, the six-week recovery timeline complicates the evaluation process for both the front office and the player’s representation ahead of the deadline.

For a Nuggets team looking to stabilize its rotation under new leadership, the loss of its most efficient preseason scorer forces an immediate pivot. Adelman will now have to navigate the opening weeks of the schedule with a revamped bench unit while waiting for Strawther’s reevaluation at the end of next month.

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