2023 NBA Draft

Matt Brooks

Denver went the more experienced route this go-around in the 2023 NBA Draft. Julian Strawther, Jaden Pickett, and Hunter Tyson—ages 21, 23, and 23, respectively—enter the NBA with 13 combined years of college experience. All of that collegiate seasoning has allowed each player to refine their game and take on a variety of roles. They're entering the league as polished pros.

Still, the 2023 draftees are excited to learn from the best, the Nuggets, winners of the NBA title.

"Obviously, just won the championship. So, we'll be in a winning culture. Team-first," said Tyson, Denver's 37th-overall selection out of Clemson University. "And then, just playing under a lot of high IQ-level guys. So really just going to learn as much as I can about the game, try and soak it all up, and go from there."

Denver's top-notch culture was the secret sauce to its massively successful playoff run when the team lost just 4 total games; it could also greatly aid the adjustment period to the NBA game for all three soon-to-be rookies. After all, the Nuggets have a storied history of development. Its three cornerstone maximum-level salaried players—Nikola Jokić, Jamal Murray, and Michael Porter Jr.—were all selected by Denver in previous drafts.

"Just the way they play basketball—they play the right way and play for each other," said Strawther, drafted in the first round with pick #29 from Gonzaga University. "I feel like in today's age of basketball, it's kind of getting lost playing for one another and playing to win. So being able to join an organization that's all about winning and all about each other, I mean, it's a blessing."

Pickett, drafted 32nd-overall in the second round from Penn State, stated he was excited to learn from Denver's supremely talented backcourt, Jamal Murray and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope.

"Yeah, for me, I'm really excited to play behind guys like Jamal Murray and Caldwell-Pope, who have been consistent starters in the league and were on championship teams. To get behind guard like that, just to learn and see whatever work you have to put in, that's gonna be really big for me and I can't wait to start."

One thing that general manager Calvin Booth mentioned during the 2023 draft picks' introductory media sessions was that all three players selected were "high character" guys. That much was evident when the trio was asked about what they needed to improve upon heading into the league. There was a level of humility and self-awareness found across the board from all three players—a rarity for one, much less three incoming rookies.

Strawther, a 6'7 forward with one of the most accurate shooting strokes in his draft class, felt he needed to make wholesale improvements.

"Making this jump from college to the pros, I feel like there's room to improve everywhere," said Strawther. "Playing against the best players in the world—bigger, faster, stronger—I feel like there's not one specific area to pinpoint. It's just improving overall as a player, just making this jump."

Pickett, a meticulous 6'2 guard with excellent decision-making and efficient shooting, echoed his new teammate's sentiments about needing to improve holistically. But he also brought up that the quicker pace of the NBA game would be an immediate adjustment for a point guard like himself.

"Just improving at basically every aspect of the game," said Pickett. "I think for me, the biggest thing would be playing with more pace and trying to run the offense at a quicker pace."

Denver's newest stretch-four, Tyson, who finished 11th nationwide in double-doubles in his final season at Clemson, stated how excited he was to learn the stylistic differences between the NBA and college from Denver's talented coaching staff.

"I'm really looking forward to just learning the ins and outs of the NBA game. Obviously, the style is very different than college in a lot of ways," said Tyson. "So just being around the organization and the coaches, just really trying to learn the NBA style."

All three players gushed about their newest superstar teammate, Jokić, the two-time regular season MVP that added a Western Conference Finals MVP and Finals MVP to his trophy case during Denver's first NBA championship in franchise history. Jokić is an unselfish star who makes the players around him better. He's the perfect guy to learn from throughout one's formative years in the league.

"Watching the way he passes the ball, how he sees the floor, I mean, he tries to see the play before it even happens," said Pickett, whose passing game is similarly cerebral. "So I feel like his passes are just super on time. And it puts a lot of pressure on the defense with somebody who shares the ball like that."

"I mean, it's amazing. He's the best player in the league, and every time you turn on the TV, it's like magic is happening. I feel like I've never seen him miss a shot," joked Strawther. "But at the same time, he's always playing the right way. And I'm super excited to share the floor with him."

"He was awesome to watch, especially throughout the playoffs this year. He sees the game a little bit differently than everyone he's playing with or against. Very methodical and he doesn't get sped up. Just like you said, I don't think I've ever seen him miss a shot," laughed Tyson in agreement.

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DENVER'S BRAND-NEW NUGGETS ARE EXCITED TO LEARN FROM THE BEST

GM Calvin Booth speaks to the media alongside Julian Strawther, Jalen Pickett and Hunter Tyson for their first visit to Denver since being drafted.

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Nuggets Media Availability: Introducing 2023 Draft Picks

The Denver Nuggets had a vision. A plan in mind during the 2023 NBA Draft.

General Manager Calvin Booth and the Nuggets' front office targeted a specific player archetype in Booth's second-ever draft. Versatile. Experienced. Unique. Most of all, Denver gravitated toward prospects with tremendous offensive output. Guys that can space the floor. All three of Denver's selectees—Julian Strawther, Jalen Pickett, and Hunter Tyson—shot at least 38 percent from the college three-point line in their most recent collegiate seasons.

This wasn't the first time Denver was this hyperfocused during its draft process. In 2022 during Booth's first NBA draft, the Nuggets targeted a different type of player. Denver's two selections—Christian Braun and Peyton Watson—cut their teeth on the defensive end. And both picks look like grand slams as of right now. Braun, taken 21st overall, played rotation minutes in the NBA Finals at 21 years old. Watson, a 20-year-old picked 30th, was a massive bright spot for the Nuggets to close out the 2023 regular season.

Denver is on the heels of a championship season with the entirety of its starting five—Nikola Jokić, Jamal Murray, Michael Porter Jr., Kentavious Caldwell Pope, and Aaron Gordon—inked to long-term contracts. However, the Nuggets are bracing for the potential exit of super-sixth-man, Bruce Brown. Brown is a free agent this summer, and the Nuggets can offer him $7.8 million next season. There is a chance he returns, of course, but Brown is set to have a boisterous market after his tremendous season in Denver.

Potentially replacing his vast skillset won't be easy in a market where Denver has very little spending power due to the salary cap. And that's without mentioning the looming 2024 CBA, which further limits the degree that teams with multiple maximum-salaried players (like Denver with Jokić, Murray, and Porter Jr.) can acquire supplementary talent.

The best way to find the right supporting pieces within these limiting parameters, at least according to Booth, is simple: hit home runs in the NBA draft and develop homegrown talent while those players are still on their rookie-scale deals, which cost much less annually.

"I like to utilize the draft to get archetypes that are hard to get in free agency or the trade market, and so I feel like all these guys are unique," said Booth. "I think that's going to help maximize this window when we get these guys that you can't get otherwise and we raise them."

Denver will enter the 2023-24 regular season as defending champions. As Booth mentioned, the goal is to "maximize" the championship window with Jokić, Murray, and the rest of the starters squarely in their primes. Head coach Michael Malone stated profusely that the Nuggets want to become a dynasty shortly after the franchise celebrated its first NBA title this month. Prospects that can immediately contribute during their rookie contracts are the most cost-effective way to maintain flexibility while continuing to compete.

So, knowing that the team needed immediate contributors, Booth sought out more experienced players in the 2023 draft. At 21 years old, Strawther was Booth's youngest selection after spending three years in college. Pickett and Tyson are both 23 years old and spent five seasons in school.

"Just getting good basketball players and guys that impact winning," said Booth about his philosophy this go-around. "Oftentimes, those guys have to be in college a little bit longer. I think every single one of these guys, at some point during the season, Coach maybe feels comfortable putting them in the game if we have injuries or if they play really well. So I think that's important to have those kinds of guys on our roster when we're just coming off winning a championship and we need to get stuff done now."

All three draftees come with ample college experience to learn the game. Moreover, their time in school has allowed them to sharpen their skills and precisely learn their strengths and weaknesses.

But there were other things that Booth valued, too, in this draft process. He called all three players "high character" and mentioned that they can help Denver build a more balanced and versatile roster.

"I think they're all high-character guys. They're all tough. They're all smart. They're all skilled. And I feel like they all bring something a little bit different than we currently have. I think having a balanced roster, a diverse roster is going to be very important going forward in trying to have a sustainable organization and team."

Strawther was Booth's first selection on draft night with pick #29 in the first round. He's a natural-born bucket-getter taken out of Gonzaga University. Strawther has as good of a case as anyone as the best shooter in his draft class. He shot 40 percent from distance in his junior season and is a full 6'7, making his three-pointer tough to block. There's more to Strawther's game than just pure shooting with impressive size, of course, which you can read about in our draft profile.

"Obviously, there's a ton of players that I enjoy watching and taking bits and pieces from their games, but seeing tall shooters, guys like Klay (Thompson), have success in the league, especially early on his career. What got him on the court was defending and so just being able to focus in on my ability on the defensive end and keep growing that," said Strawther about his skillset. "Tall shooters all around the league are having great success right now."

Jalen Pickett, taken 32nd overall out of Penn State, could best be described as unique. He's a 6'2 guard that primarily operates with his back to the basket, making him the ultra-rare post-up guard in today's league. Pickett's an excellent decision-maker and produced one of the best assist-to-turnover ratios in the nation. He's incredibly physical on the defensive end, especially on the glass. Many experts, including the Nuggets' Director of Scouting Jim Clibanoff, have compared Pickett to former Nugget Andre Miller because of his meticulous and distinctive style of play. Read more about Pickett's game here.

"The backdown thing is kind of similar between me and him," said Pickett about the Miller comparisons during Denver's introductory media sessions.

"Jalen is a great basketball player all-around and can make others better with his play," said Booth.

Booth's final draft pick of the evening, Hunter Tyson, was taken 37th overall after five seasons at Clemson University. Tyson is a double-double machine that spaced the floor with 40 percent accuracy. He's a stretch-big that impacts the game consistently with hustle plays.

"Hunter's got an incredible motor. A great shooter. Surprisingly flexible for his game and can play on the wing," said Booth.

Tyson brought up his experience and ability to play multiple roles when detailing what he brings to the table. He's used to doing whatever it takes to help his team win, which you can read more about here.

"I played college basketball for five years. I have a lot of experience playing high-level basketball. Obviously, the NBA is a step up. But I think that experience will help me early on. And also being at Clemson for five years, I had to accept a lot of different roles while I was there. So I think that'll prepare me for accepting a role here as well."

All three players will have the opportunity to contribute as early as next season when the Nuggets run it back. Booth had a very specific goal in mind for all three of his draftees. His message: play within yourself.

"I want them to go out there and compete, play hard, and play the games that they got known for and they got drafted for," said Booth. "Fit together as a team and play well together."

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INSIDE THE VISION BEHIND CALVIN BOOTH'S 2023 NBA DRAFT PROCESS

Nuggets General Manager Calvin Booth speaks about the 2023 NBA Draft.

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2023 NBA Draft: General Manager Calvin Booth

Nuggets Director of Scouting Jim Clibanoff speaks about the 2023 NBA Draft.

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2023 NBA Draft: Director of Scouting Jim Clibanoff

Nuggets PR

DENVER, June 22, 2023 –&nbsp;The Denver Nuggets have acquired the draft rights to guard Julian Strawther at 29th&nbsp;overall, guard Jalen Pickett at 32nd&nbsp;overall and forward Hunter Tyson at 37th&nbsp;overall as well as a 2024 second-round pick in exchange for the 40th&nbsp;overall pick and a protected future first round pick as part of a four-team trade with Indiana, Oklahoma City and the Los Angeles Lakers.

Strawther, 6-7, 205, played three seasons for Gonzaga University appearing in 94 career games (68 starts) for the Bulldogs. He held career averages of 10.9 points, 4.6 rebounds and 1.0 assists while shooting 48.4% from the field and 38.4% from three in 23.4 minutes per game. Strawther was named to the 2022-23 All-WCC First Team and was a Julius Erving Small Forward of the Year Award finalist after averaging 15.2 points, 6.2 rebounds and 1.3 assists while shooting 40.8% from three during the 2022-23 season.&nbsp;

Pickett, 6-4, 202, appeared in 144 games (142 starts) over four seasons with Penn State University and Siena College. In two seasons with Penn State, Pickett averaged 15.7 points, 6.0 rebounds, 5.6 assists and 1.0 steals while shooting 47.0% from the field and 34.7% from three in 36.9 minutes per game. He finished his college career with 2,207 points, 780 rebounds, 841 assists, 178 steals and 115 blocks becoming the only Division I men’s basketball player since the 1985-86 season to have accumulated those numbers in a career.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Tyson, 6-8, 215, played four seasons and appeared in 140 games (73 starts) for Clemson University, holding career averages of 8.1 points and 4.8 rebounds while shooting 45.3% from the field and 36.6% from three. He was selected to the 2022-23 All-ACC First Team and became the 44th player in Clemson history to amass 1,000 career points. His 16 double-doubles during the 2022-23 season, tied him for eighth all-time in Clemson history for a single season.

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THE DENVER NUGGETS ACQUIRE THE DRAFT RIGHTS TO JULIAN STRAWTHER, JALEN PICKETT AND HUNTER TYSON IN DRAFT NIGHT TRADE

The Denver Nuggets continue to bolster three-point shooting at the forward position by selecting Hunter Tyston out of Clemson University with pick #37 in the second round of the 2023 NBA Draft.

Tyson spent all five seasons of his college career at Clemson and was selected to the All-ACC Team (Atlantic Coast Conference) in his final year. He averaged 15.3 points and 9.6 rebounds and record the eleventh-most double-doubles in the nation with 16 in total. He was a particularly efficient scorer from all areas of the floor, shooting 40.8 percent from behind the arc, 57.8 percent from two-point range, 47.9 percent overall, and 83.8 percent from the charity stripe.

Nuggets' general manager Calvin Booth was busy leading up to draft night. First, he and his front office made an ultra-rare trade during the NBA Finals and acquired the 37th overall pick in the 2023 draft, a 2024 first-round pick, and a 2024 second-round pick from the Oklahoma City Thunder for Denver's 2029 first-round pick.

Denver then made a secondary deal and used that 2024 first-rounder from Oklahoma City and their own second-round pick at #40 to acquire the 29th and 32nd overall picks from the Indiana Pacers.

Both deals were done to maximize Denver's title window with Nikola Jokić and Jamal Murray by infusing the roster with young talent. Tyson projects as a gap-filler filler next to the stars because of his ability to space the floor and attack the glass as a forceful rebounder.

As a 40.8 percent shooter with a 6'8 stature, Tyson is precisely the type of player that can thrive in the NBA by shooting over the top of his matchups. He can generate three-point looks in a variety of ways outside of catching and shooting, relocating along the perimeter for movement three-pointers, or by setting screens and slipping into open threes out of pick-and-rolls.

Defensively, Tyson's calling card is without a doubt his rebounding. He's been described by experts as a smart defender that used his time at Clemson to develop a strong feel for defensive rotations. That'll assuredly fit in Michael Malone's defensive scheme, which alternates between multiple coverages depending upon the opponent, particularly in the postseason.

Tyson will almost immediately stretch defenses as a 6'8 stretch-four with a quick shooting stroke and high release point. Next to Jokić and Murray's lethal two-man game, and alongside proven shooters like Michael Porter Jr. and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Tyson could thrive in a simplified role where he spaces the floor and crashes the glass.

To get a better feel for his game, here are Tyson's highlights from the ACC Network.

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DENVER NUGGETS SELECT HUNTER TYSON WITH 37TH OVERALL PICK IN 2023 NBA DRAFT

The Denver Nuggets added another ball-handler to the mix by selecting Penn State's Jalen Pickett with the 32nd overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft.

Pickett, a 6'2' guard, played five seasons in college. His first three collegiate seasons were at Siena College where he was selected to the All-MAAC (Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference) team three separate times.

Pickett then transferred to Penn State for his fourth and fifth college seasons. There, he made the All-Big Ten team in the 2022-23 season. Pickett was named a Consensus All-American and collected a Wooden Award All-American amongst other awards in his storied college career.

His final college season in 2022-23 was by far his most impressive. Pickett averaged 17.7 points, 6.6 assists, and 7.4 rebounds. His shooting efficiency was remarkable—38.1 percent from three, 54.6 percent from two-point range, 50.8 percent overall from the field, and 76.3 percent from the free throw line.

Nuggets' general manager Calvin Booth was busy leading up to draft night. First, he and his front office made an ultra-rare trade&nbsp;during&nbsp;the NBA Finals and acquired the 37th overall pick in the 2023 draft, a 2024 first-round pick, and a 2024 second-round pick from the Oklahoma City Thunder for Denver's 2029 first-round pick.

Both deals were done to maximize Denver's title window with Nikola Jokić and Jamal Murray by infusing the roster with young talent. One of the Nuggets' possible needs heading into the draft was ball handling, and Pickett fills that void. Moreover, he comes with a reasonable amount of experience and pedigree as a heavily-awarded 23-year-old.

Pickett's got an unorthodox game. He's a post-up guard at 6'2, making him a rarity in the NBA. Some have compared him to former Nugget Andre Miller because of his uniqueness as a scorer. Still, he's a bucket-getter that leans heavily on his ability to fade away for jumpers, make floaters, and splash home hook shots. Plus, he became a reliable floor-spacer by the end of his time at Penn State and shot 38.1 percent from the college three-point line.

He's a fairly careful passer and produced a 2.89 assist-to-turnover ratio in his final season. Defensively, he uses his 198-pound frame to bother his matchups, and he's particularly effective on the glass by grabbing a ridiculous 7.4 rebounds per contest. Just amazing for his 6'2 size.

Denver is precisely the type of ecosystem that a player with such a unique style of play could fit in. Players are encouraged to play to their strengths amidst a roster that's balanced and talent-laden. Plus, the Nuggets have a storied history of developing prospects. 2022 first-round pick, Christian Braun, played major minutes and contributed in the NBA Finals as a rookie.

To get a better feel for his game, here are Pickett's highlights from the Big Ten Network.

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DENVER NUGGETS SELECT JALEN PICKETT WITH 32ND OVERALL PICK IN 2023 NBA DRAFT

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Come out to the Denver Nuggets 2022-23 Draft Party Thursday, June 23rd @ 6:00 p.m. at Tom's Watch Bar, presented by Miller Lite! 

Watch your Denver Nuggets make their pick, win team signed gear, and meet Super Mascot Rocky! For more information <a href="https://www.nba.com/nuggets/watch-parties">Click Here</a>