2024 NBA Draft

Henry Collins

Take a special look inside the draft room, exclusive interviews with the front office staff, and more.

denver-nuggets-inside-the-draft-%f0%9f%8e%a5

Denver Nuggets: Inside The Draft 🎥

Matt Brooks

DaRon Holmes II talks with the Denver media for the first time in Denver. Hear what he has to say!

daron-holmes-ii-nuggets-introductory-press-conference-%f0%9f%8e%99

DaRon Holmes II Nuggets Introductory Press Conference 🎙

none

DaRon Holmes II spoke to the media for the first time since getting drafted by the Denver Nuggets. The 21-year-old began his presser by reflecting on that special moment.

"It was surreal to spend that moment with family, friends, coaches, and teammates. Second to none. It was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity," Holmes said on Monday. "I was very excited. I wouldn't want to be anywhere else."

Denver, of course, traded up and sent future draft assets to Phoenix to select DaRon; they believe in him that much. That meant a lot to Holmes, who praised the organization's culture.

"I think if you believe in somebody like that, it just shows a lot, it means a lot. It means a lot to me that they were willing to do that," Holmes said. "This is a culture that I think any NBA player would love to be a part of, so the fact that I have the opportunity, I'm just very grateful for it."

Assistant General Manager, Tommy Balcetis, was also in attendance for DaRon's introductory presser. He stated that Denver was enamored with Holmes II's versatility.

"He's a versatile player. He can play with Joker, he can play behind Joker. Next to Aaron, Zeke, and Vlatko. All those guys. That's a huge asset for Coach Malone to use," Balcetis explained. "When you need something specific on the floor, this guy can do it all."

"I honestly think the most NBA-ready part of my game is being versatile. Just being able to do a lot of different things on the floor. Being able to be selfless, be a team player, make winning plays, and just being bought into the culture. Defensively, I feel the same way—being able to switch, being able to be vocal, talk, use my hands, and be everywhere on the floor."

Despite having a well-versed game, Holmes knows he's not a finished project.

"Honestly, I think that the biggest thing to get better at is everything. You can always get better at something," said Holmes. "I'm not going to sit here and say I've made it, and I'm not gonna sit here and say that I know everything I'm good at."

Holmes also gave his view on success in the NBA and how he hopes to achieve it.

"I just try to stay where my feet are. I try to have little goals that end up leading me to big goals. Just continue to get better every day, winning games, and being able to be a part of a championship team, which I am on right now. Taking things one step at a time is the biggest thing for me," he explained. "I'm not too big on all the big, crazy stuff."

"These next couple of weeks, it's just time to get to work," Holmes said. "After a lot of this stuff settles down, I'm just ready to get in the lab and just see what I have to do next."

One of the biggest things that led to Holmes getting selected in the first round of the 2024 NBA Draft was a wholesale improvement in shooting. His three-point percentage jumped by a full 7 percentage points from his sophomore year to his junior season.

"My first two years, I didn't shoot as many threes just because I wasn't confident. The reason I wasn't confident is because I can honestly say I wasn't working as hard as I was my junior year on it," the University of Dayton product said. "Going into my junior year, I was with this manager, and all we did, every single day, was the same drill. We just drilled it, even during the season, the same drill. Working hard on that and really trying to improve helped my confidence."

On the way out, DaRon mentioned that he looks up to two players on the Nuggets roster, Aaron Gordon and Nikola Jokić.

"He plays on both sides of the ball, which I think is very valuable," Holmes said about Gordon. "He rebounds the ball very well. He's a leader. He can shoot the ball, as well. He's a competitor. He plays hard, especially on the defensive end. All those things I really like about his all-around game. I think it just adds so much value as a player. He's transformed his game from when he first came into the NBA, so just seeing how he did it is pretty cool. I would definitely like to continue to follow those footsteps."

"Everybody likes Nikola Jokić's game if we're being real. I can learn anything and everything from him, offensively and defensively. He's very smart. He knows how to play with other great players. Very selfless, very coachable. He just sets the tone and everybody else kind of follows that, so I think I'm just ready to learn from him."

Now, Holmes gets to play with both of them, Gordon and Jokić, in Denver's revamped frontcourt.

daron-holmes-ii-on-becoming-a-nugget-i-wouldnt-want-to-be-anywhere-else

DaRon Holmes II on becoming a Nugget: "I wouldn't want to be anywhere else"

The Denver Nuggets selected DaRon Holmes II out of the University of Dayton in the 2024 NBA Draft!

denver-nuggets-select-daron-holmes-ii-in-the-first-round-2024-nba-draft

Denver Nuggets Select DaRon Holmes II In The First Round | 2024 NBA Draft

The Denver Nuggets secured their big man of the future on Wednesday night, DaRon Holmes II, with the 22nd overall selection of the 2024 NBA Draft.

Holmes, a junior forward/center selected from the University of Dayton, offers a two-way skill set that should plug and play almost immediately with the rest of Denver's roster. The organization is incredibly high on DaRon; after all, they traded up to get him.

Nuggets.com caught up with General Manager, Calvin Booth, just after he made Holmes the newest Nugget.

"It's very gratifying to be able to execute and get a prospect that we're excited about," Booth said to Nuggets.com. "I look forward to getting him into Denver, getting him in the gym, and getting better."

As mentioned, Denver traded up in the draft to select DaRon. They sent their first-round pick (28) and their second-round pick (56) in the 2024 draft, plus two future second-rounders, to the Phoenix Suns for their first-rounder (pick No. 22).

"As you get through the draft, you try to identify opportunities to potentially get up and start making a couple of calls. Everything moved pretty quickly. We talked to Phoenix and expressed our interest," Booth explained. "We exchanged a couple of phone calls and next thing you know, we were able to execute the deal."

Heading into the draft, Booth's goal was to find a player who could make Denver more matchup-proof. Someone who could slide into a multitude of lineups and permutations and enhance the rest of the rest of the group.

"We needed a productive frontline player. Zeke plays with a lot of energy, heart, and hustle but is not the most productive guy off the bench. DJ's getting really up there in age and plays limited minutes. So, to have a 6'10 guy that can play 18-to-19 minutes and maybe get you a double-double or ten-and-eight, that's valuable for us at this point."

Holmes has a vast skillset, which you can read more about here. It's why the franchise deemed he was worth the risk of sending out future assets to select him.

"I think it's his versatility. He's just an all-around player. Two-way upside. He can pass. He can dribble. He can shoot. Plays above the rim," Booth explained. "Just a pretty complete player that I think has a lot of value in today's NBA."

Nuggets.com asked Booth to expand upon his point about versatility, particularly on the offensive end. What makes Holmes such an appealing offensive prospect?

"It's so valuable to be able to do multiple things on the offensive end of the floor. I think one of the most interesting things about DaRon's offensive package is his ability to catch the ball in tight spaces, navigate pick-and-rolls, and make little touch shots—kind of reminiscent of what Joker can do," Booth explained. "That takes a lot of skill, coordination, and poise to be able to make plays in those tight areas."

Booth also mentioned he could see Holmes exceeding expectations defensively.

"I think defensively, he just has upside and he has room to grow. Sometimes if you were to watch him at Dayton, you could probably question his defense. But when it mattered, he really guarded well and he protected the rim. He had to carry such a big offensive load that he wasn't able to make plays and be aggressive to get into foul trouble," Booth stated confidently. "So, I expect his defense to be better than expected when he gets to the NBA."

Lastly, Booth spoke glowingly about DaRon's portability. He fits in almost every lineup you can think of because of his ability to play both center and power forward.

Denver can go "double-big" and slot Holmes alongside Nikola Jokić to form a frontcourt of top 6'10-and-taller giants. He could play the five-man next to someone like Micheal Porter Jr. in "five-out" lineups where all five players on the floor can space from behind the arc. After all, Holmes shot 38.9 percent from behind the college three-point line in his final season at Dayton.

"I think he fits great with Aaron Gordon. I think he fits great with a lot of the young guys we have, Zeke included. I also think, long term, he could potentially play in a double-big lineup starting next to Joker or during the game with Joker. I think it provides a lot of exciting opportunities to put interesting combinations like him and Michael Porter Jr. at the four and the five to really stretch the defense and really play a five-out style," Booth concluded. "He's going to give the coach and the players on the court a lot of different options when he's out there."

All in all, there's a lot to like about the newest member of the Nuggets organization.

nuggets-gm-calvin-booth-loves-the-potential-of-daron-holmes-ii

Nuggets GM, Calvin Booth, loves the potential of DaRon Holmes II

Hear what General Manager Calvin Booth had to say concluding the 2024 NBA Draft.

general-manager-calvin-booth-speaks-with-media-post-2024-nba-draft

General Manager Calvin Booth Speaks With Media Post 2024 NBA Draft

Nuggets PR

DENVER, June 26, 2024 –&nbsp;The Denver Nuggets have acquired the draft rights to forward DaRon Holmes II at 22nd overall from the Phoenix Suns in exchange for the 28th&nbsp;overall pick, 56th&nbsp;overall pick, and two future second-round picks as part of a draft night trade.

Holmes II, 6-9, 236, played three seasons for the University of Dayton, appearing in 102 games (all starts) and averaging 17.1 points, 7.5 rebounds, 1.9 assists, and 2.1 blocks while shooting 54.4% from the field and 38.6% from three in 32.5 minutes per game. He was named the 2023-24 Atlantic 10 Co-Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year, while also being named to the Atlantic-10 All-Defensive Team for the third time in his career.

Last season Holmes II led the Atlantic 10 in scoring (20.4 ppg), rebounding (8.5 RPG), and double-doubles (13), earning 2023-24 consensus All-America Second Team honors and was one of two players (Zach Edey) in D-I who had at least 65+ blocks, 65+ dunks, and 65+ assists.

the-denver-nuggets-acquire-the-draft-rights-to-daron-holmes-ii-in-draft-night-trade-2

THE DENVER NUGGETS ACQUIRE THE DRAFT RIGHTS TO DARON HOLMES II IN DRAFT NIGHT TRADE

The Denver Nuggets made a big splash in the 2024 NBA Draft.

In a proposed trade with the Phoenix Suns, the Nuggets selected forward/center, DaRon Holmes II, a junior from the University of Dayton with pick No. 22.

At 6'10 and 220 pounds, Holmes offers an impressive amount of versatility. He can play both the power forward and center position, bolstering Denver's frontcourt depth. DaRon could foreseeably serve as Nikola Jokić's backup... or play alongside him.

His offensive bag is vast. He's a skillful roll-man in the pick-and-roll with great hands, making him an excellent target for lobs. The 21-year-old can also post up against forwards. However, the biggest development in his junior season was his outside shot; his three-point percentage rose by a full 7 percentage points from his sophomore year. Denver selected a center that can not only cram home dunks in the pick-and-roll but also slide behind the three-point line and drain shots after setting screens. That's an incredibly valuable archetype in the modern NBA.

He projects to be a strong defender, as well. Holmes displayed some switchability at Dayton, able to hang with guards on the perimeter. He's also a great shot-blocker, especially when crashing in from the weak side. Unsurprisingly, his athleticism and great hands make him an excellent rebounder, tallying 10 double-doubles in 33 games. He was awarded the Defensive Player of the Year in his conference because of that polished defensive skill set.

As a junior, he averaged 20.4 points, 8.5 rebounds, 2.6 assists, and 2.1 blocks. He also shot 54.4 percent from the field and a notable 38.6 percent from behind the arc.

Holmes had an incredibly accomplished collegiate career. He was a consensus All-American in 2023-24, was named to the Wooden Award national ballot, and was selected as one of ten Naismith Trophy semifinalists. The Goodyear, Arizona product was also chosen as the Atlantic-10 Conference Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year. In his time in the Atlantic-10, he was a three-time All-Conference player and three-time All-Defense recipient.

In short, DaRon is a ready-now prospect who can immediately help Denver fulfill its wish to become a dynasty. The 2023 NBA champions got better on Wednesday night thanks to the two-way big man.

To get a better feel for his game, here are Holmes' highlights from the NCAA tournament.

denver-nuggets-select-daron-holmes-ii-with-22nd-overall-pick-in-2024-draft

Denver Nuggets select DaRon Holmes II with 22nd overall pick in 2024 draft

Presented by

ibotta

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>