Christian Braun keeps it real about the Nuggets’ starting SG spot

Christian Braun has dealt with more success than most 23-year-olds in the NBA. He won three straight high-school championships, an NCAA championship as a freshman, and a world championship with the Denver Nuggets as a rookie. That’s five consecutive years of winning titles and only tasting victory in the playoffs.

Braun’s perfect postseason streak came to an end in May when the Minnesota Timberwolves took out Denver in a heartbreaking Game 7 collapse. Braun only averaged 6.0 points in the second-round series and shot a combined 2-of-9 from the field across games 6 and 7.

With the departure of Kentavious-Caldwell Pope, Braun is projected to fill the open shooting guard spot in the Denver Nuggets’ starting lineup next season. However, the young two-guard has kept it real about the work he needs to do to earn the spot.

Braun spoke to Bennett Durando of The Denver Post about the opening in Denver’s starting five and what it will take to seize it.

"It’s not written in that I’m gonna be the starter, and I don’t approach it that way. I never will … I haven’t done anything in this league yet. I know we won the championship, but I have so much more to do, so muhc more to offer, so much more to give. I think that lineup fits me really well – but it fits a lot of people really well. So like I said, I’ve gotta go take it. I’ve gotta go earn it this summer."

- Christian Braun

This upcoming training camp will mark the most important preseason preparation of Braun’s basketball career. He will be fighting for one of the most coveted starting gigs in the sport, playing alongside a generational talent in Nikola Jokic and a collection of talented champions with plenty of experience. 

If Braun earns the starting spot and takes enough of a leap next season, he could become one of Denver’s most important franchise cornerstones for the future. 

Julian Strawther could compete for the starting SG spot

While Braun will enter training camp as the favorite to start, second-year talent Julian Strawther could make a case for himself. Like Braun, Strawther is 6-foot-6 with the kind of build that could see him become a high-level, switchable defender in the future. Braun is much farther along as a defender, but Strawther has showcased a serious knack for getting buckets.

When he received his most minutes of the season, a rookie Strawther dropped 22 points with six 3-pointers against the Atlanta Hawks. In his three games with at least 20 minutes of action, Strawther cracked double-digit points each time.

Strawther kicked off Summer League with a 25-point performance, and he looks ready to put in serious work for Denver this season. His ability to score from all over the court and his defensive potential will make him a key piece for the Nuggets moving forward, regardless of his exact place in the rotation.

Nuggets head coach Michael Malone joined Candace Parker and Jared Greenberg on the Summer League broadcast to discuss the starting spot.

"We have Christian Braun, who helped us win a championship in his rookie season. He has won at every level he’s been at. His energy, his toughness, all the intangibles of things that I love with Christian … I'll tell ya, I'm not giving that spot to anybody. It's gonna be a competition. I told Julian Strawther, "push each other, let's see who's gonna win that spot." Julian’s ability to put the ball in the basket and put pressure on the defense is something that we really value as well."

- Michael Malone

Christian Braun will likely start as KCP’s young 3-and-D replacement

While Strawther has a lot of talent, Braun seems like the safer bet to get the starting nod for Denver next season. The Nuggets have tons of offensive firepower between Jokic, Jamal Murray, and Michael Porter Jr. It will be important for the 2023 champions to maintain the elite perimeter defense that KCP brought to the table alongside Aaron Gordon.

In 10 career starts, Braun has averaged 11.1 points on insane splits of 58.7% shooting from the field and 53.8% shooting from three. That’s 68.8% true shooting as a starter.

On the Summer League broadcast, Malone praised Braun for his consistent effort and reliability. Braun’s elite motor has played a big role in his winning ways.

"CB has done everything we’ve asked him to do. I can’t say enough great things about him because he’s in the gym, he’s a worker, and I never have to worry when I put him in the game if he’s going to play hard. You know exactly what you’re getting with Christian Braun every single night."

- Michael Malone