The Nuggets don’t have a rich history with the NBA’s Most Improved Player award, but they do have one player worth watching if you’re hunting for a longshot this season: Julian Strawther.
Denver has had just one player win the honor since it was introduced in 1896, and that was former All-Star guard Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf in 1993, during his third season in the Mile High City. Since then, the award has stayed out of reach for the Nuggets, even as the team has developed plenty of players along the way.
This year, though, one Nugget has at least landed on the board in preseason odds. FanDuel Sportsbook lists Strawther at +15,000 to win Most Improved Player, making him the lone Denver player with odds shorter than +50,000.
He’s still nowhere near the top tier of candidates. The favorites are Charlotte Hornets forward Brandon Miller at +800, San Antonio Spurs guard Dylan Harper at +1,100, and Boston Celtics guard Payton Pritchard at +1,500.
Strawther’s number tells you he’s a longshot. But it also tells you Denver has someone with a real path to a jump.
That path starts with opportunity.
Strawther, now entering his fourth year, spent last season in more of a supporting role off the Nuggets’ bench. He averaged about 15 minutes per game, and his scoring dipped from 9.0 points a night in year two to 7.2, even though he shot a more efficient 46.7% from the field.
The setup looks different now. Denver’s bench has gone through turnover, and Strawther remains in place. With Tim Hardaway Jr. and Peyton Watson no longer in the second-unit mix, there are shots and minutes available, and Strawther appears positioned to play 20 or more minutes a night for 2026-27.
That matters, especially for a 24-year-old wing in a contract year. More minutes, more touches, more chances to settle into a larger role - that’s the kind of runway that can fuel a career-best season.
Still, winning Most Improved Player would require a huge leap. Strawther would have to push past the production of established offensive pieces such as Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray and Aaron Gordon, and then make enough noise across the league to stand out against players like Miller and Harper.
That’s a steep climb. But among Denver’s roster, Strawther is the clearest name to circle if you’re looking for a player who could see his numbers rise in a meaningful way.
If his expanded role turns into real production, the Nuggets could trust him with more as the season goes on. And even if the award itself is a reach, the year-three-to-year-four jump is still worth watching closely.
Odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.
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