The Denver Nuggets did plenty to build a true title contender around 3-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokić in a loaded Western Conference this past offseason, but their future plans could involve locking down one of their most important young contributors.
One of Denver’s most consistent supporting pieces helped the franchise capture its first NBA championship in franchise history as a rookie in 2023, as Christian Braun made an immediate impact after the organization selected him with the No. 21 overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft.
Braun has only continued to level up after partially leading the Nuggets to a title, and his stellar 2024-25 campaign has created some buzz around the league with regard to a potential contract extension in the near future.
“Though he’s shown a bit more on offense through his career, a lot of that can be credited to playing with Jokić,” Bleacher Report’s Andy Bailey wrote Tuesday.
“He’s also not quite the defender (Dyson) Daniels is. And on a title contender with multiple big-money players already on the books, it may be a little easier to talk Braun into sacrificing a few million per year.”
Though Bailey claims that Braun may not receive the same exact extension figure as his 2022 NBA Draft classmate, the 2025 Defensive Player of the Year runner-up and Atlanta Hawks guard Dyson Daniels, Bailey did predict the former to land a five-year, $140 million contract from the Nuggets.
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This potential deal could make plenty of sense, especially considering the fact that Braun may have had a case for receiving Most Improved Player votes this past season. Interestingly enough, Daniels was the one to capture that award come season’s end.
Spanning 79 appearances in the regular season for Denver, Braun contributed career-bests across the board with 15.4 points, 5.2 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.1 steals on a ridiculous 66.5% true shooting percentage, an unheard of mark for a player of his stature.
Braun’s athleticism and defensive motor combined with a career 38.4% three-point percentage could certainly lead to the 24-year-old receiving a hefty payday, but that is a decision that will become tough for Denver’s front office as they navigate the coming season with the NBA’s 10th most expensive roster.
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