Denver Nuggets Commit to Christian Braun's Bright Future

The Denver Nuggets have shown their confidence in young talent by signing swingman Christian Braun to a lucrative five-year contract extension worth $125 million. This move comes as a reward for Braun's significant improvement during the previous season.

According to NBA insider Shams Charania from ESPN, Braun's extension was announced on Monday, securing him a long-term place in the Nuggets organization. Originally slated to earn $4.9 million in his final rookie season (2025-26), Braun sought a more lucrative deal, with estimates suggesting he desired around $25 million per year.

Selected as the No. 21 pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, Braun exhibited impressive development during his third year, averaging 15.4 points, 5.2 rebounds, 2.6 assists, and 1.1 steals across 79 games—77 of which he started. His points per game leaped from 7.3 in his sophomore season, marking him as one of only two players, alongside Atlanta Hawks' Dyson Daniels, to increase their scoring average by more than eight points.

This efficiency translated into a remarkable season for Braun, who achieved shooting percentages of 58.0% from the field and 39.7% from beyond the arc. In the playoffs, Braun was integral to the Nuggets' performance, contributing 12.6 points and 6.4 rebounds per game while helping the team push the eventual NBA champion Oklahoma City Thunder to a dramatic seven-game series in the Western Conference Semifinals.

The Nuggets have been active in strengthening their roster around superstar center Nikola Jokic and point guard Jamal Murray during the offseason. The acquisition of swingman Cameron Johnson from the Brooklyn Nets adds depth, but extending Braun signals that the franchise envisions him as a pivotal part of their future. Moreover, with no first-round pick in the 2025 draft, Braun's role within the young core becomes even more crucial.

If Braun's upward trajectory continues, he could find himself taking on a larger role in the upcoming season as the Nuggets aim to reclaim their status as championship contenders.