Julian Strawther will be reassessed in six weeks after spraining his left knee, the Denver Nuggets announced. The Associated Press report on NBA.com says he was injured during Wednesday's preseason game at the Los Angeles Clippers.
Denver provided the update on Friday night. Strawther remains out without a confirmed return date; six weeks identifies the planned reassessment rather than a guaranteed clearance to play.
A missing bench option
The 24-year-old was expected to contribute from Denver's bench this season. The injury arrives during the final preparation period before regular-season competition.
The current report lists 57 appearances and 7.2 points per game last season. He also played in two playoff games before Minnesota eliminated Denver in the first round. Strawther has started eighteen NBA games over his career.
Background before the injury
Denver's 2025/26 media guide records three seasons at Gonzaga, where he played 94 games, starting 68, and averaged 10.9 points and 4.6 rebounds.
His final college season brought averages of 15.2 points and 6.2 rebounds and first-team All-WCC recognition. Those are historical college figures, distinct from the recent NBA statistics in the injury update.
Indiana selected him twenty-ninth in the 2023 draft before trading his rights to Denver. He signed a multiyear contract that July and later made the 2025 Rising Stars selection.
His immediate priority is now recovery and the next knee assessment. Further team updates will establish when he can resume playing, rather than the six-week review alone determining that outcome.