The Denver Nuggets have been without a key bench piece this season, once again struggling to find consistency in the non-Jokic minutes. DaRon Holmes, their promising first-round pick out of Dayton, was seen as a potential solution to that issue—until a torn Achilles cut his 2024 Summer League debut short.
Since suffering the injury, the Nuggets have taken a patient approach, prioritizing Holmes’ full recovery over a rushed return. Achilles injuries are among the most challenging setbacks for basketball players, with a typical recovery timeline hovering around a year. Denver has remained cautious, ensuring their young forward regains full strength before stepping back onto the court.
Holmes’ recovery has been progressing well, and he’s recently been spotted working out before Nuggets games. Notably, he has even been seen jumping off his repaired Achilles, a promising sign that he’s regaining confidence in his movement.
Fans have eagerly awaited an update on his return, and on Friday, Holmes finally shed some light on his timeline. “From what I’m hearing now, I’m pretty sure I will be [playing in the Summer League],” he said. “I don’t know how many games it will be, but I figure I’ll be playing in the Summer League.”
Holmes made an immediate impression in his lone Summer League appearance last year, recording 11 points, four rebounds, and knocking down all three of his three-point attempts before his injury. His performance offered a glimpse of his potential, making his exit after just 25 minutes a heartbreaking moment for the Nuggets organization.
His rehab is progressing well, and he recently shared that he’s incorporating more movement into his workouts. “Moving around… running… jumping. Now it’s just about when the coaches and the training staff feel it’s a comfortable time for me to get back out there,” Holmes said.
Before his injury, Holmes dominated at Dayton, averaging over 20 points and 8.5 rebounds per game while leading the Flyers to the NCAA Tournament’s Round of 32. His potential role in Denver remains an intriguing topic. Given his skill set and physical profile, he may be a better fit at the power forward spot next to Nikola Jokic rather than as a small-ball center when Jokic sits. Denver has learned through Zeke Nnaji’s recent development that simply forcing players into the five-spot doesn’t always yield the best results.
For now, Holmes remains focused on his rehab, taking things one day at a time. If all continues to go well, Nuggets fans may finally see him back in action this summer—an exciting prospect for a team looking to strengthen its depth for the future.