Denver Nuggets Rookie Watch - DaRon Holmes II

DaRon Holmes II’s journey to his NBA debut has been anything but conventional. Following three award-winning seasons with the Dayton Flyers, the 6’10”, 225-lb forward declared for the 2024 NBA Draft. Initially selected by the Phoenix Suns with the 22nd pick, Holmes was then acquired by the Denver Nuggets for the 28th pick and three second-rounders in an effort to provide frontcourt depth behind Nikola Jokić and Aaron Gordon. Unfortunately, a torn Achilles tendon just minutes into his Summer League debut set those plans on the back burner.

One of the positive things about setbacks is that they not only reveal character, but they also offer an opportunity for a comeback. Spending the year studying the Nuggets’ system while rehabbing, Holmes remained upbeat. If his final Summer League stat line of 19 points, 17 rebounds, and 5 assists is any indication of what Holmes can bring to the team, the wait may have been worth it.

What makes Holmes' addition to the Nuggets’ roster valuable isn’t just his size or offensive versatility; it’s also his basketball IQ and ability to guard multiple positions on the other end of the court. While Denver did add Jonas Valančiūnas to the roster as the primary backup for their All-NBA big man, Holmes is expected to give the veteran a battle for minutes while also competing with Peyton Watson for time at the backup power forward position. For a team that relied heavily on Jokić and Gordon over the past two years, reliable frontcourt depth will go a long way toward keeping their starters fresh as the team hopes for a lengthy playoff run.

While it will be tough to crack a veteran-heavy lineup, new coach David Adelman is likely more favorable toward playing young players than former coach Mike Malone was. If Holmes can give the Nuggets 6 to 10 minutes of energy off the bench while contributing a little bit of everything on the stat line, it could go a long way toward helping the team contend for their second NBA title.