The Jayhawks were preparing for their crucial home game versus Texas on Sunday, but ex-Jayhawk Christian Braun was busy playing the best game of his young NBA career.
Braun was one of the most crucial pieces to KU’s 2022 National Championship winning team. The three-year player averaged 14.1 points per game as a junior for the Jayhawks, earning many honors for his spectacular play. His toughness and passion made him loved by the Allen Fieldhouse crowd and Kansas fans everywhere.
It has been a quiet rookie season for Braun. He has averaged just 4.1 points and 2.3 rebounds per game, albeit at a very efficient 47.6% field goal percentage.
However, he was a pleasant surprise for the Denver Nuggets last night. Making just his third start of the year, Braun posted 19 points and 5 rebounds on 7-10 shooting in 34 minutes. The points and minute totals both marked career-high for the fan favorite. Here are his highlights from the contest:
#Nuggets rookie Christian Braun had a career-high 19 points tonight:
— Joel Rush (@JoelRushNBA) February 6, 2023
7-10 FGs
2-2 from 3
5 rebounds
1 assist
1 block
Some of his scores tonight: 🎞️👇
-catch-and-shoot 3-pointer
-driving reverse layup
-coast-to-coast driving layup
-pull-up midrange jumper
-driving floater pic.twitter.com/jjcWxxKkU9
He has now put together a string of impressive performances for the Nuggets. In his last 8 outings, Braun has averaged 9.1 points and 4.3 rebounds per game. Even more impressive is his efficiency, as his three-point percentage sits at 56.3% during that span.
Braun’s combination of defense, athleticism, and three-point shooting has boded well for him under Nuggets head coach Mike Malone. He had some positive words about Braun following a win last month:
"“He has just a tremendous amount of energy and that’s what we need. Making shots or not making shots, we just need energy. We need some guys that are willing to fly around and wreak some havoc out there. I think Christian fits that to a T.”"
That explanation of Braun fits hand in hand with his time at Kansas. Whenever things seemed to be going bad, he would come out of nowhere with an offensive rebound or hit a huge shot to ignite the crowd. He always yearned for the big moment.
Braun was the 21st overall selection in this past summer’s NBA Draft, but he was not expected to perform so well in just his first year. Denver sits atop the Western Conference standings as the No. 1 seed, so there is a real chance that Braun will be playing significant minutes in the playoffs for an NBA Finals-hopeful Nuggets squad.