Christian Braun proves to be an effective role player

The Denver Nuggets are off to a 3-3 start after picking up a 129-103 win over the Utah Jazz on Saturday. Through the first six games, many of the Nuggets have been inconsistent. The two most consistent Nuggets have been three-time MVP Nikola Jokić and the Nuggets’ newest starter, Christian Braun. Braun was arguably the Nuggets’ second-strongest player through six games. Even though the Nuggets lost half of their games, Braun proved his worth during his time on the court. He finished all six games with a positive plus/minus and had a plus-8 or better in five games. So far, he’s proving to be the perfect role player the Nuggets need to be successful.

Christian Braun proves to be an effective role player

Defensive strength

Braun started ten of the 158 games he played in his first two seasons in the NBA. Braun is now firmly established in the starting lineup for the foreseeable future. One of Braun’s biggest advantages in his first two seasons was his reliability as a young backup. Many young players find it difficult to remain consistent, especially on defense. Not brown. He thrived on the defensive side of the ball, often guarding the opposing team’s best defender or winger. His duties are similar this season, but his importance has increased. Brown will be asked to guard the best defender/winger on the court during his game.

Defensively, Braun is quick and energetic. His physicality and speed allow him to stay in front of most players. His combination of skills gives him the advantage to succeed against some of the NBA’s elite guards, including Devin Booker and Anthony Edwards. While these superstars are nearly impossible to stop, Braun has proven his defensive prowess against them over the past two postseasons. He limited them in sections, which gave the Nuggets a chance to win. Braun’s play was extremely impactful on the defensive side of the field as they won their first championship in franchise history in 2023. His ability to thrive on defense complements the skills of the other Nuggets starters.

Infectious energy

Braun has always shown his energy. When he’s on the floor, there’s no doubt he’ll give 100% the entire time. It’s one of his strongest attributes as a player. Even when he has difficulties, he does not let them affect his efforts. Braun’s performance is one of the reasons the Nuggets allowed Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, who signed with the Orlando Magic, to leave during the offseason. There were concerns about whether or not Braun would fit well with the starters, but he has shown that his effort and energy fit well with the rest of the group. Michael Porter Jr. had this to say about Braun and his fit next to the starters via DNVR on X before the season started:

“He gets along well with us…we look forward to playing with him.”

Last season, the Nuggets’ current starting lineup played just 28 minutes together and outscored the other teams by five points in those minutes. They have already played 118 minutes together this season, which is the most of any lineup in the NBA. They outscored their opponents by 38 points in those minutes. Braun has integrated extremely well into the starting group. His averages consistently rise as he looks more open, and his infectious energy rubs off on the other starters. The Nuggets did their best while Braun was on the court alongside the other starters. It is the bench that has raised concerns in the first six games where Braun’s impact was missed.

Showcasing his improvement from three

One of the Nuggets’ biggest concerns heading into the season was their inability to shoot due to Caldwell-Pope’s departure. Braun was able to increase his consistency from three-point range, but after shooting 25% from distance in the first three games, he shot 54.5% from three in the last three games. His high rate in recent games brought his season average to 42.1% from beyond the arc, which would be a career high if he maintained that mark throughout the season. Hitting your open threes is crucial to the Nuggets’ success.

This season, Braun has begun to show his consistency on both ends of the court. Offensively, Braun is off to a great start. He has scored double-digit points in all six contests, the most consecutive games of his career. Where Braun has the most success is playing against Jokić. He finds the open spots on the field, which leads to free shots. Brown is averaging 4.5 shots per game at the rim and is an incredible 74.1% efficient in that area. With his cutting ability proving to be a threat early on, this will cause defenders to depend on him at the three-point line. While he hasn’t consistently proven that he’s a top shooter, he’s done his fair share of open shooting.

If Braun can maintain a three-man ratio near 40% throughout the season, it will make the Nuggets’ starting lineup even more dangerous and give them a good chance at another solid playoff success. Braun’s impactful play has allowed the Nuggets to take care of the teams they were supposed to beat. If their bench can improve, they could be in for a winning streak.