Summer in Las Vegas is usually about two things: losing money at the craps table and watching potential NBA stars lose their composure in a humid gym. For fans tracking the Denver Nuggets summer league roster, the 2025 circuit felt a little different. It wasn't just about finding a diamond in the rough. It was about redemption, especially for a guy like DaRon Holmes II.
If you weren't paying attention to the Thomas & Mack Center this past July, you missed a weirdly fascinating chapter in Denver’s "win-now" timeline. The Nuggets didn't have a single pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. None. Zero. While other teams were parading lottery picks, Denver was busy scouring the undrafted market like a guy looking for a lost remote in the couch cushions.
Honestly, it worked out better than most expected.
The Redemption of DaRon Holmes II
The biggest story on the Denver Nuggets summer league roster was easily DaRon Holmes II. Remember 2024? His Summer League lasted about as long as a TikTok trend before he tore his Achilles in the very first game. It was brutal. Watching him back on the court in 2025 was the highlight for basically everyone in the Nuggets organization.
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He didn't just play; he looked like he belonged. Holmes averaged 13 points and nearly 10 rebounds over four games. He has this weirdly smooth game for a 6-foot-9 guy. He can switch on defense, and his three-point shot (which he hit at 38.6% back at Dayton) started to show some real life. Denver needs a backup big who isn't a liability when Nikola Jokic sits. Holmes might finally be that guy.
He’s aggressive. He’s mobile. And most importantly, he’s healthy.
The Returning Faces and Two-Way Hopefuls
Hunter Tyson was the other "veteran" on this squad. It’s funny calling a guy in his second year a veteran, but in Summer League, that's basically what he is. Tyson is a shooter, plain and simple. He spent most of the 2024-25 season with the Grand Rapids Gold, but Denver brought him back to Vegas to see if he could find that rhythm again. He put up 12.5 points and 9 boards per game, showing he’s more than just a spot-up threat.
Then you've got the two-way guys:
- Tamar Bates: A 6-foot-4 guard out of Missouri who Denver snagged right after the draft. He’s a bucket-getter. He averaged over 11 points in Vegas and showed some real grit on the defensive end.
- Spencer Jones: Coming off a decent stint where he actually played 20 games for the main roster last season, Jones is the definition of a "3-and-D" prospect. He’s 6-foot-7 with a wingspan that seems to go on forever.
The Denver Nuggets Summer League Roster: Hidden Gems
Since the Nuggets didn't have draft picks, they had to get creative. They signed Curtis Jones from Iowa State and Reyne Smith from Louisville. Smith is an absolute flamethrower. He’s an Australian kid who shoots about eight threes a game. He only played one game in Vegas, but he dropped 17 points and looked like he didn't care who was guarding him.
Reece Beekman was another interesting name. He’s a point guard from Virginia who just knows how to play basketball. He’s not the flashiest athlete, but he averaged 6 assists and 2 steals. He’s the kind of floor general who makes everyone else look better, which is exactly what coach Andrew Munson needed out there.
The Full 2025 Vegas Squad
If you’re looking for the specific names that filled out the rest of the bench, here’s the group that represented the Mile High City:
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The Bigs
Tyrell Harrison, a 7-foot-1 center from Australia, provided some much-needed size. He’s 26, so he’s older than your average prospect, but his rim protection was solid. Then there was Ibou Badji, a massive human being who has bounced around the league a bit but still offers a ton of physical upside. Kaodirichi Akobundu-Ehiogu (try saying that five times fast) also brought some elite leaping ability to the frontcourt.
The Wings and Guards
Boo Buie from Northwestern is a fan favorite for his name alone, but he’s a legit floor spacer. Keyontae Johnson, who has one of the most incredible "comeback" stories in basketball, also got some run. Terrence Hargrove Jr. and Logan Johnson rounded out the depth, providing energy when the starters needed a breather.
Why This Roster Matters for the 2025-26 Season
The Nuggets are in a tight spot. Their payroll is massive. They lost Russell Westbrook. They need cheap, young talent to fill out the bench. That’s why the Denver Nuggets summer league roster is more than just a July distraction.
If DaRon Holmes II can give them 12 minutes a night in the regular season, that's a win. If Spencer Jones or Tamar Bates can develop into a reliable rotation piece, Calvin Booth looks like a genius for finding them in the undrafted pile.
The coaching was consistent, too. Andrew Munson led the team for the second year in a row. He runs a system that mirrors what Michael Malone does with the big club. Lots of movement, lots of passing, and a heavy emphasis on defensive communication. You could see the "Nuggets culture" even in a chaotic Vegas environment.
Actionable Insights for Fans
Watching Summer League is different than watching a Tuesday night game in January. If you're tracking these guys, keep an eye on these three specific developments:
- DaRon Holmes II's Lateral Quickness: His Achilles injury was serious. In Vegas, he looked fast, but the real test is how he handles NBA-level guards on a switch. If he can stay in front of them, he’s going to play a lot this year.
- Tamar Bates as a Spark Plug: Denver’s bench has struggled to score for years. Bates has that "microwave" scoring ability. Watch his G-League stats early in the season; if he's averaging 20+, expect a call-up.
- The Shooting of Reyne Smith: Denver needs floor spacing. Smith’s 90% free-throw shooting and high-volume three-point attempts make him a prime candidate for an Exhibit 10 contract or a future two-way spot.
The 2025 Summer League wasn't about winning a championship in July. It was about finding the pieces that help Nikola Jokic win another one in June. Based on what we saw from Holmes and the undrafted crew, the Nuggets might have found exactly what they were looking for.
Keep an eye on the Grand Rapids Gold roster as the season starts. Most of these guys will head there first to marinate in the system. The transition from Vegas to the NBA is a long road, but for a few of these names, the journey is just getting started.