Christian Braun became one of the most essential contributors for the Denver Nuggets during the 2024-25 season, stepping into a crucial role after Kentavious Caldwell-Pope’s departure. As the team’s starting shooting guard, Braun faced lofty expectations and responded by significantly elevating his performance, making him a standout player throughout the season. His development played a vital role in Denver’s competitive efforts, attracting attention around the NBA.

Significant Improvements Across All Areas of Play

After primarily serving as a role player during the Nuggets’ championship run in 2023, Braun embraced a full-time starting role in his third NBA season. He appeared in 76 games, posting averages of 15.4 points, 5.2 rebounds, 2.6 assists, and 1.3 steals while shooting an impressive 58.0% from the field and 38.5% from three-point range. His offensive leaps included enhanced confidence attacking off the dribble, better passing, and more effective finishing around the basket, resulting in his scoring nearly doubling from the previous year.

Defensively, Braun took on the challenge of being Denver’s primary perimeter defender. He was regularly tasked with guarding elite scorers such as Anthony Edwards, Devin Booker, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, relying on his strength and instincts to remain competitive. Although he occasionally struggled, his relentless hustle, on-ball intensity, and transition defense made him a valuable asset.

Playoff Challenges and Areas for Growth

In the postseason, Braun’s role intensified as he defended stars like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and James Harden. He logged nearly 39 minutes per game, averaging 12.6 points, 6.4 rebounds, 2.4 assists, and 1.2 steals. Despite being credible in these defensive assignments, Braun fell short of elite status in these matchups. Offensively, his three-point shooting declined to 29.6% from 5.1 attempts per game. Since Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray functioned as Denver’s primary creators, Braun was expected to provide consistent floor spacing, but his reluctance to take and attempt more threes limited his impact.

Braun’s shot attempts from beyond the arc were modest, averaging only 2.8 per game in the regular season, with five or more three-pointer attempts in just 16 games. His scoring was largely restricted to cuts and fast breaks, with only 2.6 drives per game reflecting the need for development in his ball-handling and half-court creativity.

Praised by Teammates for His Competitive Spirit

Nikola Jokic recognized Braun’s mindset and contributions after a decisive Game 7 win against the Los Angeles Clippers, stating,

“He knows what to do. He accepted the role because he’s a winner.”

—Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets center

This attitude helped Braun secure an A grade for his regular season performance, as he not only exceeded expectations but also effectively replaced a veteran presence with reliable production on both ends of the court. His motor and effort remained strong even during the season’s most difficult stretches, earning him league-wide respect as a high-level role player with the potential for more.

Position Within the Team’s Hierarchy and Contract Outlook

Braun’s importance to Denver was apparent, with many considering him the team’s fourth-most valuable player after Jokic, Jamal Murray, and Michael Porter Jr. Entering the third year of his rookie deal, Braun was selected 21st overall in the 2022 NBA Draft and is slated to earn $3.1 million in the 2025-26 season. The Nuggets hold a team option for 2026-27 valued at $4.9 million, which they are expected to exercise.

Looking ahead, Braun will be eligible for a rookie-scale extension in the 2025 offseason. With Denver facing salary cap pressures due to multiple max contracts, the organization will likely prioritize securing Braun long term. Should his development continue upward, a contract extension in the range of four years and $90–110 million seems plausible.

The Path Forward: Expanding Offensive Roles and Leadership

Christian Braun’s future looks promising thanks to his strong physical skills, defensive instincts, and growing offensive abilities. For Denver, the challenge will be integrating him more thoroughly into the offensive system, especially as veteran players age and Braun assumes more playmaking and leadership responsibilities. To justify a significant extension, Braun must evolve into a player comfortable with taking on increased responsibility on the floor.

Improving his handle and adding a reliable midrange or floater shot could transform Braun into the ideal homegrown success story for a championship contender. Whether his current form represents his full potential or if there is another level yet to be unlocked remains an open question, but the coming seasons will be critical in determining his trajectory.