Fully Recovered, Nuggets’ DaRon Holmes II Returns To Summer League With Fresh Start

A year after tearing his right Achilles tendon in his first taste of Summer League action, Nuggets forward DaRon Holmes II is back in Las Vegas and finally ready to begin his NBA career.

Holmes, the 22nd overall pick in the 2024 draft, missed his entire rookie season due to the injury, which occurred just days after Denver traded up to select him. Now fully recovered, Holmes will take the floor Thursday night with no restrictions, per Bennett Durando of The Denver Post.

“It can be pretty difficult, because you have to trust what the trainers are saying,” Holmes said. “I might try to fight back and say no, I want to get shots up. But I have to listen. They went to school for eight-plus years doing that. I grew up playing basketball. So that’s the fight. It’s more of a mental thing.”

Holmes remained committed to the recovery process throughout the season, balancing rest with regular shooting work to maintain form. He’ll get the chance this summer to show why Denver viewed him as a first-round priority just 12 months ago.

Listed at 6-foot-9, Holmes sees himself as a natural power forward but said he’s comfortable playing center as well.

“Anywhere they put me, I’ll be comfortable playing,” he said. “I spent a lot of summer time playing the five. … I trust what the coaches have. I trust this team, the organization.”

While the Nuggets expect Holmes to see action at both positions during Summer League, he’ll likely enter training camp competing for backup minutes at the four alongside Zeke Nnaji and Peyton Watson.

Denver hopes the wait will prove worthwhile. Holmes’ return marks the long-awaited next chapter in a career that was put on hold before it ever began.