BROOKLYN, N.Y. – Former Gonzaga standout Julian Strawther was selected as the 29th pick in the 2023 NBA Draft by the Indiana Pacers Thursday but is headed to the Denver Nuggets following a trade for the selection Wednesday.
 
Strawther is the 30th GU player selected in the NBA Draft all-time, and the 18th under Bulldog Head Coach Mark Few.
 
Strawther was the 13th Zag to be drafted in the first round, joining John Stockton in 1984 (16th overall pick, Utah Jazz), Dan Dickau in 2002 (28th overall pick, Sacramento Kings), Adam Morrison in 2006 (3rd overall pick, Charlotte Bobcats), Austin Daye in 2009 (15th overall pick, Detroit Pistons), Kelly Olynyk in 2013 (13th overall pick, Dallas Mavericks), Domantas Sabonis in 2016 (11th overall pick, Orlando Magic), Zach Collins in 2017 (10th overall pick, Sacramento Kings), Rui Hachimura (9th overall pick, Washington Wizards) and Brandon Clarke (21st overall pick, Oklahoma City Thunder) in 2019, Jalen Suggs (5th overall pick, Orlando Magic) and Corey Kispert (15th overall pick, Washington Wizards) in 2021, and Chet Holmgren (3rd overall pick, Oklahoma City Thunder) last year. Ian Mahinmi was a first round pick and 28th overall by the San Antonio Spurs in 2005. Mahinmi had signed a letter-of-intent to attend Gonzaga for the 2005-06 season, but never enrolled in school.
 
Strawther, a First Team All-West Coast Conference selection, was second on the team averaging 15.2 points per game last season, which was also 10th in the league. His 17.6 points per conference game ranked eighth. He also grabbed 6.2 rebounds per outing. He was one of five finalists for the Julius Erving Award, which is given to the nation's top small forward.
 
The Las Vegas native scored 20 points or more eight times this season, including a 40-point outburst at Portland on Jan. 28. He was 8-for-12 from behind-the-arc in that road victory. The junior had 28-point scoring efforts at Loyola Marymount and Pepperdine on Jan. 16 and 18. Against Kentucky, he had a double-double of 20 points and 14 rebounds. Strawther was named to the 2023 WCC All-Tournament Team.
 
Strawther opened the 2023 NCAA Tournament with a 28-point effort against Grand Canyon, making three shots from behind-the-arc, and pulling down 10 rebounds. He had a memorable 16-point performance against UCLA in the Sweet 16 hitting the game winning three-pointer in the final seconds.