With Bruce Brown taking a significant monetary shift for his ultimate free company, the Denver Nuggets now view Christian Braun because the man they’d groom to fill the void left by the tremendous sixth man.
As such, there isn’t a one who would need this essential alternative greater than themselves.
“I need this problem,” Braun stated, in accordance with Denver Put up’s Sean Keeler. “I need a larger function and I believe everybody desires an even bigger function.
“However the truth that the Nuggets believe in me and (in) our younger guys to tackle this function and take the subsequent step means so much to me. And naturally, I’ll show them proper.
Braun was a glowing revelation and one of many brilliant lights of Denver’s profitable 2022-23 season.
The 2022 NCAA champion rookie at Kansas immediately attracted the boldness and religion of head coach Michael Malone, serving as a stable spark plug off the bench along with his excessive engine and IQ, protection in addition to large upside.
For 76 common season video games, he averaged 4.7 factors and a couple of.4 boards. And within the playoffs, he turned a stunning insertion within the Nuggets’ playoff rotation, totaling 3.2 factors and a couple of.1 boards and capturing greater than 53% from the sector in 19 video games for 13 minutes.
His most impactful outing was again in Recreation 3 of the NBA Finals towards the Miami Warmth, ending with 15 factors (7-8 FG, 0-1 3Pt, 1-1 FT), 4 rebounds, one help and one steal in 19 minutes to assist Denver take a 2-1 sequence lead.
“I imply, the work has already began (for me), I am simply doing sure issues to develop my recreation, I am doing sure issues to be a greater ball handler, a secondary ball handler,” he stated.
“With Bruce leaving, I’ll have extra alternatives like that. I believe I am prepared for that. I imply, it is simply a part of your entire profession – you step as much as (get) right here.
Brown left Colorado to chase the primary large paycheck he can get, signing a two-year contract with the Indiana Pacers that will internet him greater than $40 million.
It’s certainly a well-deserved cash-in for the do-it-all swingman who considerably helped the Nuggets clinch their first title utilizing his relentless vitality and flexibility.
For Braun, what Brown has demonstrated all through Denver’s title run is only a good blueprint for him to stipulate the longer term as he’s now anticipated to take his place on the membership.
“You be taught so much from a man like (Brown),” Braun Brown stated. “I believe (Bruce is) a defensive-minded participant who ended up enjoying very nicely on offense for us.
“I simply realized to play exhausting like that and love (the world). I believe (Brown) actually stepped into his function and walked into a brand new city and fell in love with the city. And I believe that is why he had all of the success.
