One of the most important players for the Denver Nuggets in the 2024-25 season was Christian Braun. After becoming Denver’s starting shooting guard following the departure of Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, the expectations were high for Braun. He ended up clearing them in a unique way.
Let’s review Christian Braun’s 2024-25 season:
Regular Season Performance
After being a role player during Denver’s 2023 title run, Braun became a full-time starter following the departure of KCP — and he rose to the challenge. Braun took a significant leap forward in his third NBA season, playing 76 games and averaging 15.4 points, 5.2 rebounds, 2.6 assists, and 1.3 steals per game on a stellar 58.0% shooting from the field and 38.5% from three.
Defensively, Braun carried the torch as Denver’s primary perimeter stopper. He routinely matched up against elite scorers like Anthony Edwards, Devin Booker, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, using his strength and instincts to hold his own. His on-ball intensity, hustle, and transition defense were important pieces for a Nuggets team that didn’t do enough work around him to be consistently good. Yes, Braun had trouble on occasion, but the effort was always good.
On offense, Braun’s development was one of the Nuggets’ biggest stories. His confidence attacking off the dribble improved, as did his passing and finishing in the paint. He doubled his scoring average from the previous year and displayed a fearless mentality — unafraid to take big shots or drive into contact. His corner three-point shooting (over 42%) gave Denver crucial spacing around Jokic, though he was tentative, and his unwillingness to let shots fly ultimately hurt him in the playoffs. Braun averaged just 2.8 three-point attempts per game during the regular season, attempting 5+ three-pointers in just 16 out of 77 regular season games.
Playoff Performance
Braun ended up averaging 12.6 points, 6.4 rebounds, 2.4 assists, and 1.2 steals in nearly 39 minutes per game during the playoffs. He was tasked with guarding SGA and James Harden primarily, and while he wasn’t elite in that role, he was credible in those matchups and forced the opposing stars to work for their shots.
The unfortunate factor was a lack of three-point efficiency, just 29.6% from three on 5.1 attempts per game. With Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray the central creators for the Nuggets and opponents constantly packing the paint, Braun had to be a spacer more consistently. He made some big shots, but his scoring was mostly limited to cuts and transition. Braun also only averaged 2.6 drives per game, so his handle and creativity in the halfcourt will need some work.
Best Game – 23 points, 11 rebounds, 5 assists, 4 stocks in Game 6 vs Oklahoma City Thunder
Key Quote
“He’s aggressive, he’s annoying,” Nikola Jokic said of Christian Braun after Game 7 win vs Los Angeles Clippers. “He knows what to do. He accepted the role because he’s a winner.”
Player Grade: A
Braun earns an A for the 2024–25 regular season. Not only did he exceed expectations, he filled a massive void left by a proven veteran and gave the Nuggets consistent production on both ends.
While he’s still developing as a shot creator, Braun made massive strides in scoring efficiency and decision-making. He had multiple 20+ point games, including key performances in wins over the Clippers, Kings, and Thunder. His motor never waned, even in the dog days of the season.
He also earned league-wide respect as a high-level role player — and potentially more. There’s a legitimate case that he was Denver’s fourth-most important player this season, behind only Jokic, Murray, and Porter.
Contract Situation
Christian Braun is in the third year of his rookie contract after being selected 21st overall in the 2022 NBA Draft. He’s set to make $3.1 million in 2025–26, with a team option for 2026–27 worth $4.9 million. The Nuggets will undoubtedly exercise that option.
Braun will be eligible for a rookie-scale extension in the 2025 offseason, and the front office will likely prioritize retaining him long-term — especially with the cap crunch looming from max contracts across the roster. A deal in the range of 4 years, $90–110 million wouldn’t be surprising if he continues his upward trajectory.
What’s Next for Braun?
The future is bright for Christian Braun. With his elite physical tools, defensive instincts, and improving offensive skillset, he’s trending toward becoming one of the NBA’s better two-way wings.
For Denver, the key will be finding more ways to integrate him into the offense. As veterans age, Braun could take on even more playmaking and leadership responsibilities. If Braun is going to warrant an extension, he will have to transition into being a player that can assume as much responsibility as possible and be comfortable doing so.
If he continues developing his handle and adds a midrange or floater package, Braun could become the kind of homegrown success story every contender dreams of. For that to happen though, Braun will have to get back in the lab. It will be interesting to see whether the latest version of Braun is what to expect going forward, or if there’s another layer of untapped potential underneath.