In free agency during the past offseason, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope joined the Orlando Magic. Previously on the Denver Nuggets, it was known that the team would miss his three-point shooting/defensive acumen. He had been the team’s starting shooting guard for two seasons, including on their 2022-23 championship team. What made it a bit easier to stomach for fans was that the Nuggets had an ascending young player who seemed ready to take his place in the starting lineup. That would be Christian Braun, who started each of his first 45 outings until he was benched for Wednesday’s game.
Nuggets Player Benched For First Time, Speaks On It After Game
Christian Braun Benched For First Time This Season
On Wednesday, the Nuggets lost on the road to the New York Knicks by the score of 122-112. It was the third straight loss for Denver, who preceded that with four consecutive wins. They now own a 28-19 record, fourth-best in the Western Conference.
As mentioned, Christian Braun was benched for the first time this season in this contest. In 29 minutes Wednesday, the 23-year-old finished with 13 points (4-8 from field, 1-2 from three-point range, 4-4 from foul line), five rebounds, and one assist. The team was a -18 while Braun was on the court. His playing time wasn’t too far off the 32.4 minutes he was averaging entering the game.
The 21st overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, Braun started just 10 of his 158 appearances over his first two seasons. He was a key reserve though in his rookie season in which Denver won the NBA Finals. The 6-foot-6 guard/forward spoke with Bennett Durando of the Denver Post after the game about the benching. Braun said,
“Obviously I took a lot of pride in having that spot, trying to win that spot. And I’m gonna work to try to get it back. That’s my job. … But whether I’m coming off the bench or starting I’m very grateful for every opportunity that I get.”
Christian Braun: “Obviously I took a lot of pride in having that spot, trying to win that spot. And I’m gonna work to try to get it back. That’s my job. … But whether I’m coming off the bench or starting I’m very grateful for every opportunity that I get.” More soon @DenverPost
— Bennett Durando (@BennettDurando) January 30, 2025
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In his first 45 games, all starts, Braun posted averages of 14.3 points, 4.6 rebounds, 2.0 assists, and 1.1 steals. He shot 57.6% from the field, 37.7% from beyond the arc, and 82.4% from the free-throw line. In his most recent game prior to Wednesday, Braun dropped 28 points on 11-15 shooting.
Aaron Gordon Reinserted Into Starting Lineup
From December 27 until January 10, a span of nine games, Aaron Gordon was out with a calf injury. Since returning, head coach Michael Malone has been bringing the 29-year-old off the bench. In the offseason, Gordon and Denver agreed on a three-year, $103.6 million extension which begins next season. It was assumed that he would eventually be reinserted into the starting lineup, and it came at Braun’s expense.
If Braun were to reclaim a starting role, it might be for Russell Westbrook. The 36-year-old future Hall of Famer has exceeded expectations and has shown great synergy with Nikola Jokic. Still, with the team now losers of three in a row, another change could be on the way. The Nuggets next play Friday in an away outing against the Philadelphia 76ers.
Photo credit: © Brad Penner-Imagn Images
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