The Denver Nuggets’ Christian Braun is having a spectacular 2024-2025 NBA season. He has taken his game to another level and has become an essential player for the Nuggets. His rapid progression this season has earned him a chance to win the NBA’s Most Improved Player of the Year Award.
Braun is in his third NBA season, and each season he has improved in points, assists, and rebounds per game. In his rookie year, he averaged 4.7 points, 0.8 assists, and 2.4 rebounds per game. Last season, he averaged 7.3 points, 1.6 assists, and 3.7 rebounds per game. This year, his stats have skyrocketed, and he has averaged 15.4 points, 2.6 assists, and 5.2 rebounds per game. While his overall minutes played per game have increased significantly from 15.5, to 20.2, and to 33.9 over the last three years, his skill set has also seen a boost.
Braun had similar growth during his time at the University of Kansas (KU). In his three seasons there, he went from averaging 5.3 points per game as a freshman to averaging 14.1 points per game in his final season. This history of progression each year speaks to Braun’s ability to learn from his past and focus on areas of improvement. Look for him to continue to develop as he gains more time in the league.
Braun is ultimately a winner. Some players have that “it” factor that makes them stand out from their competitors, and Braun is one of those players; he has a knack for winning. His final season at KU culminated with an NCAA Championship in 2022, when the Jayhawks defeated the University of North Carolina Tar Heels. The following year, in his rookie season, he won an NBA Championship with the Denver Nuggets. In doing so, he became only the fifth player in history to achieve this, and the first to do so since Billy Thompson in 1986-1987.
Braun has also reached the playoffs in each of his first three seasons in the NBA. He is fortunate to be on a team with three-time MVP Nikola Jokić. Learning from a fellow winner like Jokić will only pay dividends for Braun in the future.
Braun plays with the ultimate belief in himself; this is evident in his actions on the court. He wears his heart on his sleeve when he plays, shown by his enthusiasm and relentless will to win. He carries a chip on his shoulder that rubs off positively on his teammates. This infectious energy is one of the reasons that his team has been so successful in his first three years in the league.
Braun will continue to develop and progress in the league. He has recently shown that there is likely another level for him to reach. He is coming off a career-high 30-point game against the Indiana Pacers and another 25-point outing against the Sacramento Kings. Expect Braun to continue this positive momentum in the playoffs when he takes on the Los Angeles Clippers this Saturday, April 19, 2025.
Braun has quickly shown the league throughout his first three seasons that he is a special player. Between his tenacious desire to win, his leadership, and his consistent improvement, Braun will only continue to stand out in the league and make a name for himself.
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