The Denver Nuggets are off to a 3-3 start after winning a 129-103 blowout over the Utah Jazz on Saturday. Through the first six games, many of the Nuggets have been inconsistent. The two most consistent Nuggets have been three-time MVP, Nikola Jokić, and the Nuggets’ newest starter, Christian Braun. Arguably, Braun has been the Nuggets’ second-most impactful player through six games. Despite the Nuggets losing half of their games, Braun has proved his worth during his time on the court. He has finished with a positive plus/minus in all six games, finishing plus-8 or better in five games. So far, he is proving to be the perfect role player the Nuggets need to succeed.
Christian Braun is Proving to be an Impactful Role Player
Defensive Prowess
Braun started ten out of the 158 games he played during his first two seasons in the NBA. Now Braun is solidified in the starting lineup for the foreseeable future. One of the biggest positives for Braun during his first two seasons was his reliability as a young bench player. Many young players struggle to remain consistent, especially defensively. Not Braun. He thrived on the defensive side of the ball, often guarding the opposing team’s best guard or wing player. His duties are similar this season, but his importance has elevated. Braun will be asked to guard the best guard/wing on the court while he plays.
Defensively, Braun is quick and energetic. His physicality and quickness allow him to stay in front of most players. His combination of skills gives him the advantage to thrive against some of the elite guards in the NBA including Devin Booker and Anthony Edwards. Although it is nearly impossible to stop those superstars, Braun proved his defensive prowess against them in the past two postseasons. He limited them in stretches, which gave the Nuggets chances to win. Braun’s play was extremely impactful on the defensive side of the court when they won their first championship in franchise history in 2023. His ability to thrive on the defensive end compliments the skills of the other Nuggets starters.
Infectious Energy
Braun has always showcased his energy. When he is on the floor, there is no doubt that he will put forth 100% effort the entire time. It is one of his strongest traits as a player. Even if he struggles, he doesn’t let it affect his effort. Braun’s effort is one of the reasons the Nuggets allowed Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, who signed with the Orlando Magic, to leave during the offseason. It was a concern as to whether or not Braun would fit in well with the starters, but he has shown how his effort and energy match the rest of the group well. Michael Porter Jr. had this to say regarding Braun and his fit alongside the starters before the season started via DNVR on X:
“He is gelling with us well… we’re excited to play with him.”
Last season, the current Nuggets starting lineup only played 28 minutes together, outscoring other teams by five during those minutes. This season, they have already played 118 minutes together which is the most of any lineup in the NBA. They have outscored their opponents by 38 during those minutes. Braun has slid in and fit incredibly alongside the starting group. His averages are up across the board as he gets more open looks, and his infectious energy spreads to the other starters. The Nuggets have played their best while Braun has been on the court alongside the other starters. It is the bench that has raised concerns through the first six games that have missed Braun’s impact.
Showcasing His Improvement from Three
One of the biggest concerns for the Nuggets heading into the season was their lack of shooting with the departure of Caldwell-Pope. Braun still could increase his consistency from three-point range, but after starting the first three games shooting 25% from the arc, he shot 54.5% from three over the last three games. His high percentage over the past few games brought his season average to 42.1% from the arc, which would set a career-high if he keeps it throughout the season. Knocking down his open threes is vital to the success of the Nuggets.
This season, Braun has begun by proving his consistency on both sides of the court. Offensively, Braun is off to a terrific start. He has scored double-digits in points across all six contests, the most consecutive games of his career. Where Braun is thriving most is playing off of Jokić. He is finding the open spots on the court, leading to open shots. Braun is averaging 4.5 shots per game at the rim and is shooting an incredibly efficient 74.1% in that range. With his cutting ability proving to be a threat early on, it will lead to defenders sagging off of him at the three-point line. Although he hasn’t consistently proven he is an elite shooter, he has made a good chunk of his open shots.
If Braun is able to maintain close to 40% from three throughout the season, it will make the Nuggets’ starting lineup even more dangerous and give them a good chance of making another deep playoff run. Braun’s impactful play has allowed the Nuggets to take care of the teams they should beat. If their bench can improve, they could be in line for a winning streak.
