Christian Braun continually raises his performance with each opportunity for Nuggets

Selected 21st overall in the 2022 NBA Draft, Christian Braun wasted no time proving his worth as a rookie for the Nuggets. Despite limited playing time and modest stats, Braun quickly established himself as a valuable asset to the team. His impact on Denver's championship season may have gone unnoticed by some, but his teammates and coaches recognized his contributions on and off the court. Braun's work ethic, versatility, and team-first mentality were vital in helping the Nuggets achieve their ultimate goal.

His rise became evident, particularly as the team advanced to the NBA Finals. Rather than taking on a smaller role on the biggest stage, Braun earned more playing time, averaging 16.3 minutes in five NBA Finals matchups. He played a major role in a pivotal Game 3 win over the Heat in Miami, with the series tied 1-1. The rookie saw 19 minutes off the bench and scored 15 points on 7-for-8 shooting.

Veteran guard Bruce Brown departed Denver in free agency following the Nuggets’ championship run in 2023, opening up greater opportunities for Braun in his sophomore campaign. The Kansas product seized this role, and his time on the floor rose to 20.2 minutes. Braun cemented himself as a key role player for a contending team, and proved he could have a greater impact.

The 2024 offseason brought forth another critical juncture for the Nuggets and Braun with Kentavious Caldwell-Pope entering free agency. His departure to Orlando left a hole in Denver’s starting lineup, and Braun was in a prime position to fill it.

The 23-year-old has taken his latest opportunity and left no doubt that he earned the role.

Now averaging 33.3 minutes, Braun has more than doubled his scoring output in comparison to last season, averaging 15.0 points.  He’s also doing it with efficiency, not just volume, shooting a career-best 57.8% from the floor. His 66% true-shooting percentage is also second among guards to appear in more than nine games this season. He’s a force in transition, scoring 5.3 fast break points per game, second only to Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo.

Braun’s growth has allowed the Nuggets to stay in contention in the West, despite key departures in the recent off season. Don’t miss Braun and the Nuggets in action tonight when they host the Hornets (9 p.m. ET,NBA League Pass).