Time for the Nuggets to Unleash DaRon Holmes II
With the Denver Nuggets currently grappling with a significant wave of injuries, the “high-upside rookie wild card” everyone is watching is DaRon Holmes II.
While technically drafted in 2024, Holmes is effectively a rookie for the 2025-26 season after a torn Achilles sidelined him for the entirety of his true debut year. Now healthy and tearing up the G-League, Holmes represents exactly the kind of versatile, modern frontcourt depth Denver needs to survive their current roster crunch.
Why Holmes is the “Wild Card”
Holmes was a first-round standout at Dayton, known for his ability to protect the rim while stretching the floor offensively.
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G-League Dominance: With the Grand Rapids Gold, Holmes has been putting up eye-popping numbers, averaging 20.9 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 3.5 assists.
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Modern Skill Set: He is shooting 37.5% from beyond the arc on high volume (5.5 attempts per game), a trait that makes him an ideal “stretch big” pairing for Nikola Jokić.
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Defensive Versatility: He provides the verticality and shot-blocking (1.2 per game in the G-League) that Denver has lacked in their backup frontcourt rotations.
The Injury Catalyst
The urgency to call up Holmes stems from a depleted Nuggets rotation. Several key starters and rotation players are currently sidelined or recently returned:
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Aaron Gordon: Dealing with a hamstring injury.
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Christian Braun: Managing an ankle issue.
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Cameron Johnson: Sidelined with a knee injury.
With these absences, head coach David Adelman has been forced to rely on deep-bench options like Hunter Tyson and Zeke Nnaji. While they provide effort, neither possesses the high-ceiling two-way potential that Holmes has flashed in his recovery.
The Outlook
The Nuggets are currently 22-9 and sitting near the top of the Western Conference, but their defense has shown signs of fatigue. Integrating Holmes during this road stretch could serve two purposes: it gives exhausted veterans a breather and allows the team to see if Holmes can be a legitimate contributor by the time the postseason arrives.
As Nikola Jokić continues his MVP-level campaign, adding a dynamic young athlete like Holmes could be the spark that helps Denver maintain their pace in a brutal Western Conference.
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