It seems like the Denver Nuggets have learned their lesson. When they won the championship title in 2023, they let several key players leave the team. This summer, the organization worked hard on signing quality role players and surrounding Nikola Jokic with more talent. Their latest move is also a signal they are ready to pay money to keep the team together and compete for a championship.
On the eve of the NBA’s opening night, the Nuggets and Christian Braun made a deal, the prized role player agreeing to a five-year, $125 million extension (h/t ESPN senior insider Shams Charania).
Nuggets Cement Championship Core With Christian Braun Contract Extension
Braun has been in the Mile High since the 2022 NBA Draft, when the Nuggets selected him 21st overall out of Kansas. Prior to his contract extension, the 24-year-old had a team option for the upcoming season. Both sides have until the beginning of the season to strike a deal, or Braun would have entered the 2026 offseason as a restricted free agent.
Initially, Braun was a 3-and-D player for Denver but his role continues to grow and expand. Last season, he even ranked fourth among Denver’s top scorers, behind only Jokic, Michael Porter Jr. and Jamal Murray. He also played a key role for the Nuggets during their championship run, primarily in his willingness and ability to take on tough defensive assignments.
Is It Fair Value?
Braun’s new deal will pay him approximately $25 million per season. That’s in the range of what Jonathan Kuminga received this summer from the Golden State Warriors after his drawn-out contract negotiations. That salary is similar to what players like Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon, Minnesota Timberwolves forward Jaden McDaniels and big man Naz Reid, Cleveland Cavaliers forward De’Andre Hunter, and Milwaukee Bucks center Myles Turner are earning.
Moving forward, it’s a good move for both he and the team. To the latter point, the Nuggets will be a tax-paying team for the foreseeable future. However, they have a perennial MVP candidate in Jokic, and it’s their responsibility to put a great team around him to compete.
What Does Deal Mean For Nuggets?
For the Nuggets, the deal means they will likely be a first-apron team for the next two years at least. The silver lining is that they have a team that is fully signed through 2026-27. Unless they decide to swing another big trade, like the one they made with the Brooklyn Nets for Cam Johnson, they are set for the next two seasons.
The interesting part of Braun’s rookie scale contract extension with Denver is that it doesn’t include a player option. Bearing that in mind, Braun is coming off a season in which he took a massive leap. In 2024-25, he averaged 15.4 points per game on 58.0% shooting from the floor and 39.7% from behind the arc. He also averaged 2.6 assists, 5.2 rebounds, and 1.1 steals per game. It was the first time in his career that he became a full-time starter.
If Braun continues on his developmental trajectory, improving even more, the Nuggets will legitimately have another quality scorer on their roster.
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