The Nuggets were exposed in their first-round playoff exit by the Minnesota Timberwolves in more ways than one. They were exposed for a lack of rim protection, perimeter defense, and athleticism. And now, Christian Braun has exposed another flaw in the Nuggets, and it's a void that has been present for some time. The leadership does not seem to start with Nikola Jokic, and Braun's statement seems to back that up.
“I just think I’m the leader of this team,” Braun said. “I’m the vocal leader of this team." Braun continued, "I didn’t have this team ready enough to play in a tough series. So we’ll be better. I’ll be better."
Braun delivered his statement to Bennett Durando in an interview in "The Denver Post." You love to hear the confidence in Braun, but it's hardly the place you expect to hear a statement like that from. Braun spent almost half the season on the sidelines with an injury, playing in only 44 games, and averaged 12.0 points and 4.8 rebounds, both regressions from the prior season.
Nikola Jokic needs to be the leader of the Nuggets
Nuggets fans certainly do not see Braun as the leader on the Nuggets, and the statement itself seems a bit of a reach for Braun, who is set to enter the first year of his five-year, $125 million extension next season. Braun just had a playoff where he averaged 8.3 points and 3.5 rebounds.
The statement exposed the fact that Nikola Jokic has not stepped up to take on the leadership roles you would want your superstar to assume. Or even Jamal Murray, for that matter. And that void with no leadership at the top was evident against the Timberwolves. There was a void present.
It would have been great to come back from a commercial, and we see Jokic going on a tirade about some poor perimeter defense, trying to get some fire in the squad like Tom Brady would so many times in his NFL career. It was always present with Michael Jordan and most of the all-time greats.
Jokic has just never found it. He's even admitted that he needs to find the "bad guy" inside of him to be the true leader the Nuggets need. And maybe he just never will? Perhaps his brothers gobbled all of it up in the family?
The Nuggets should trade for someone who can lead
Nothing against Braun, but he isn't going to be the person getting the Nuggets fired up. It's hard to get fired up for a guy who's playing just good enough to be a starter. You need leadership from the top.
If the Nuggets are going to rebuild, they should find the spark to fire up Jokic in a trade. It's not Murray, and it's not Braun that can do it. Who that player is, we'll have to see once trade speculation gets going. But they need to find that player. The leadership void was noticeable.
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