Denver Nuggets shooting guard Christian Braun was a member of the franchise’s first NBA championship in 2023. It was his rookie season, and he had tasted that glory before his NBA career truly took off. Braun only averaged 15 minutes a night in that season and had a limited role. Conversely, he has seen his minutes increase significantly during the present season. It’s not solely because he’s in his third season, but more so because he’s earned and deserved the minutes head coach Michael Malone is giving him. Braun’s third season is his best so far, and his numbers and impact back it up. His production is also a reason to believe that Braun could be this year’s Most Improved Player, and he also feels this to be the case.
Nuggets Guard Has Strong Case for Valuable NBA Award
Denver Nuggets’ Guard Christian Braun Should Be In “Most Improved Player” Award Conversation
Before you think of Braun, the likes of Dyson Daniels or Cade Cunningham come to mind as lead favorites to win the Most Improved Player award this season. For Daniels and Cunningham, the recognition is deserved. That said, Cunningham had a strong season last year and happens to be following it up this year. Daniels is the more intriguing choice between the two players due to the significant difference between his stats last year and this year. On top of that, he’s in the running for Defensive Player of the Year consideration, and rightfully so. All of that to say, if either Daniels or Cunningham takes the MIP award home, there isn’t much to fight against it.
Braun’s Argument
In Braun’s case, however, similar to Daniels’s, his numbers resemble a stark contrast from the 2023-24 season. In 20 minutes per game last year, Braun averaged 7.3 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 1.6 assists on 38.4% from three and 46% from the field. This season, everything has gone up to 33 minutes a night, 15.1 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 2.4 assists. His shooting efficiency has also improved from the field, shooting 57.4% and 39.3% from three. Aside from his statistic production, Braun has supplanted himself in Denver’s rotation as a solid, quality role player. It’s a role the Nuggets have been searching for since they lost Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Bruce Brown in the last two years after the championship win. Braun’s impact has helped steady the Nuggets this season, and he believes his numbers and contribution are enough to put him in the conversation of the league’s Most Improved Player.
“I would hope that I’m in that mix,” Braun told The Denver Post.“I know there’s a lot of guys that get a lot of mentions, and they deserve it, too. But I want to be in that mix. I feel like I work hard to be in that mix. And that’s not just an individual award. I think that it shows how good those guys around me are, too.”
Impending Playoff Impact
Braun had already started to show his upside during Denver’s past playoff runs, so it should be no surprise if he excels further in this year’s run. The Nuggets are expected to contend for a title, and Braun has the chance to be instrumental in it. His coach trusts him, so the high minutes will likely be there for him. Furthermore, the Nuggets have one glowing flaw in their roster: depth, and it’s an area Braun can help stabilize.
Apart from Russell Westbrook, there isn’t anyone off Denver’s bench who jumps out and issues confidence in their impact. Westbrook will step up, and his tenure in Denver has gone relatively well. But apart from the stars in the Nuggets lineup, someone other than them will have to step up, and Braun could be that player. He has the game and intangibles; we’ll justhave to wait and see what he does with them when the Nuggets are in a seven-game series.
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