{"id":120893,"date":"2025-01-30T07:00:45","date_gmt":"2025-01-30T12:00:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/?p=120893"},"modified":"2025-01-30T05:42:45","modified_gmt":"2025-01-30T10:42:45","slug":"christian-braun-benched-speaks-on-it","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2025\/01\/30\/christian-braun-benched-speaks-on-it\/","title":{"rendered":"Nuggets Player Benched For First Time, Speaks On It After Game"},"content":{"rendered":"

In free agency during the past offseason, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope<\/a> joined the Orlando Magic. Previously on the Denver Nuggets, it was known that the team would miss his three-point shooting\/defensive acumen. He had been the team\u2019s starting shooting guard for two seasons, including on their 2022-23 championship team. What made it a bit easier to stomach for fans was that the Nuggets had an ascending young player who seemed ready to take his place in the starting lineup. That would be Christian Braun<\/a>, who started each of his first 45 outings until he was benched for Wednesday\u2019s game.<\/p>\n

Nuggets Player Benched For First Time, Speaks On It After Game<\/h2>\n

Christian Braun Benched For First Time This Season<\/h3>\n

On Wednesday, the Nuggets lost on the road to the New York Knicks by the score of 122-112<\/a>. It was the third straight loss for Denver, who preceded that with four consecutive wins. They now own a 28-19 record, fourth-best in the Western Conference.<\/p>\n

As mentioned, Christian Braun was benched for the first time this season in this contest. In 29 minutes Wednesday, the 23-year-old finished with 13 points (4-8 from field, 1-2 from three-point range, 4-4 from foul line), five rebounds, and one assist. The team was a -18 while Braun was on the court. His playing time wasn\u2019t too far off the 32.4 minutes he was averaging entering the game.<\/p>\n

The 21st overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft<\/a>, Braun started just 10 of his 158 appearances over his first two seasons. He was a key reserve though in his rookie season in which Denver won the NBA Finals. The 6-foot-6 guard\/forward spoke with Bennett Durando of the Denver Post after the game about the benching. Braun said,<\/p>\n

“Obviously I took a lot of pride in having that spot, trying to win that spot. And I’m gonna work to try to get it back. That’s my job. … But whether I’m coming off the bench or starting I’m very grateful for every opportunity that I get.”<\/p>\n

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Christian Braun: "Obviously I took a lot of pride in having that spot, trying to win that spot. And I'm gonna work to try to get it back. That's my job. … But whether I'm coming off the bench or starting I'm very grateful for every opportunity that I get." More soon @DenverPost<\/a><\/p>\n

— Bennett Durando (@BennettDurando) January 30, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n