Former Jayhawk Christian Braun joins rare company as Nuggets win NBA Finals

In their first NBA Finals appearance in franchise history, the Denver Nuggets have defeated the Miami Heat for the NBA’s top crown.

It’s obviously an historic moment for Nuggets fans and players alike, but perhaps none more so than former Jayhawk Christian Braun.

With an NBA championship now on his resume, Braun has become the 10th Kansas basketball alum since the 1976 NBA-ABA merger to win an NBA title and just the fourth former Jayhawk since the merger to win both an NCAA and NBA title – joining a trio of 2008 NCAA champions (Mario Chalmers, Brandon Rush, and Sasha Kaun).

Prior to the Nuggets’ win last night, Kaun was the most recent former Jayhawk to claim that honor when the Cleveland Cavaliers and teammate LeBron James won the NBA championship in 2016.

Braun has also become just the fifth player in NBA history – and the first since 1987 – to win an NBA title and NCAA title in back-to-back years.

In the championship-clinching Game 5 win, Braun contributed 7 points and 3 rebounds in 24 minutes of playing time – and did so in front of his former coach Bill Self.

Braun was asked after the game how it feels to be a champion in back-to-back years.

"“I mean it feels great,” Braun said. I’m blessed to be in this position … to be around a group like this and to win this accomplishment, it feels great.”"

What Braun and the Nuggets accomplished this year was historic, and Kansas fans should rejoice seeing one of their own represent KU so admirably on professional basketball’s highest stage.

The best part? He’s just getting started.

Some of the reactions on Twitter to Braun’s big night: