10 best former Kansas basketball players in the NBA right now

NEW YORK, UNITED STATES - APRIL 20: Joel Embiid (21) of Philadelphia 76ers attends the press briefing after the game against the Brooklyn Nets at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn of New York City, United States on April 20, 2023. (Photo by Selcuk Acar/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images) /

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Christian Braun #0 of the Denver Nuggets (Photo by Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images) /

7. Christian Braun — Denver Nuggets

2022-23 season stats: 76 GP, 4.7 PPG, 2.4 RPG, 0.8 APG, 49.5% FG

One would not have expected Braun, a low-end four-star recruit from Overland Park, to be a vital bench piece for the Western Conference’s No. 1 seed — yet here we are. His path to the NBA was unexpected, which makes his success all the more remarkable.

The animated 2022 national championship winner was taken 21st by the Nuggets and now serves as a reliable depth piece. He is efficient offensively and makes the hustle plays that every head coach loves to see.

Aside from his smooth jump shot, Braun has become a terrific scorer in transition for Denver. He can get to the rim at ease and finish over the best defenders. Although his offensive game is one-dimensional, it is hard to take away what Braun has done as a rookie.

His ceiling in the league is not all that high, but he should be in the NBA for years to come. It is hard to find a player with the competitive edge that “CB” possesses.

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