Three Nuggets Players Who Still Need to Prove Themselves in Training Camp

Going into this season, the Denver Nuggets know the goal is to compete for a championship. They're led by star center Nikola Jokic, and he is one of the best players in the world, but other players will need to step up around him. 

The Nuggets have three players on their roster who will need to step up in 2026-2027, and they will need to use training camp to really prove themselves to this front office and coaching staff. 

One player is Christian Braun, who is on a five-year, $125 million contract. Last season, he had some low moments and was not as productive as the Nuggets could have hoped. He shot just 30.1 percent from three-point range last season, and when playing alongside Nikola Jokic, spacing is key to success.

Going into this offseason, there were conversations about potentially trading away Christian Braun, but those talks died down, and it seems like this front office has faith that he can turn it around next season. Braun will have to prove his worth early in the season as he looks to get back into form. 

Another player who will need to prove himself is small forward Cameron Johnson, who was brought over via trade from the Brooklyn Nets. Johnson was brought into the roster for his ability to defend the perimeter and space the floor, but in 2025-2026, he had a down year scoring-wise. 

Johnson finished averaging just 12.2 points per game in his first season with the Nuggets, his lowest average since 2021-2022, when he was a member of the Phoenix Suns. If Johnson can find a way to get back into form when he averaged over 18 points per game with the Brooklyn Nets, he could become a great asset for the Nuggets. 

The third player who will need to prove his worth during this year's training camp for the Nuggets is Julian Strawther. Strawther is a young guard who was drafted in 2023, and has not had many chances to get playing time. 

When looking at the Nuggets' backup guards, they have players who have not seen much time, and with Strawther entering his fourth season in the NBA, he could be ready to take on a bigger role. 

If Julian Strawther can have a big training camp and show Nuggets coaches he can be a reliable piece off the bench, he could be a surprise player who gets more minutes this next season.