Julian Strawther is a junior SG/SF coming out of Gonzaga. Originally from Las Vegas, Strawther has the potential to be an excellent 3-and-D wing in the NBA. A team could be getting a steal with him.
Julian Strawther 2023 NBA Draft Profile
College Career
Julian Strawther did not played very much as a freshman for the Bulldogs, but that changed in a big way. He became a full-time starter as a sophomore and excelled, and then got even better as a junior. He earned 2022-2023 All-WCC honors this year, as well as making the WCC All-Tournament team. Strawther was also a member of the All-Region team in the NCAA Tournament this year.
Strengths
Strawther is great shooter. He shot 40.8% from 3-point range this season at Gonzaga. Anywhere behind the arc is fine for him, so he should have no trouble with the deeper arc in the NBA. His floater is just as good when attacking the basket and he is great at spacing the floor. His body control is excellent as well. And as a spot-up shooter he ranked in the 97th percentile.
Rebounding is another thing that Strawther is really good at. He was one of the best rebounding wing players in the country this season, averaging 6.2 rebounds per game. He also isn’t scared of big moments. He had multiple game winning shots as a junior this year, including against UCLA in the Sweet Sixteen.
Weaknesses
There is only one thing wrong with his jumper and that is its unusual release. The shooting motion is odd, but it obviously still works really well. Outside of that it’s great. The only big knock on Strawther is that he is not super athletic. That lack of athleticism causes him to be less explosive as you would like for him to be.
He is best suited to play for a fast-paced team. At Gonzaga they played at a really fast pace and Strawther was great in that kind of offense. He fit perfectly. If selected by a slower-paced team he could struggle initially.
NBA Player Comparison
Josh Hart. Hart is similar to Strawther in a lot of ways. Like Strawther, Hart is a good scorer and a great rebounder, especially for being a wing player. They are both kind of a mix between a Small Forward and a Shooting Guard. Strawther isn’t as good defensively as Hart is, but everything else is similar.
NBA Draft Projection
Early-to-mid second round. Strawther does have a chance to go in the first round, but the second round is more likely.
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