Christian Nicholas Braun (born April 17, 2001) is an American professional basketball player for the Denver Nuggets of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball at the University of Kansas and was a starter on the team that won the 2022 NCAA Championship.
| No. 0 – Denver Nuggets | |
|---|---|
| Position | Shooting guard |
| League | NBA |
| Personal information | |
| Born | (2001-04-17) April 17, 2001 (age 21) Burlington, Kansas, U.S. |
| Listed height | 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) |
| Listed weight | 220 lb (100 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school | Blue Valley Northwest (Overland Park, Kansas) |
| College | Kansas (2019–2022) |
| NBA draft | 2022 / Round: 1 / Pick: 21st overall |
| Selected by the Denver Nuggets | |
| Playing career | 2022–present |
| Career history | |
| 2022–present | Denver Nuggets |
| Career highlights and awards | |
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Braun played basketball for Blue Valley Northwest High School in Overland Park, Kansas. As a senior, he averaged 27.8 points, 9.3 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game, leading his team to a third straight Class 6A state title.[1][2] He was named Mr. Kansas Basketball and Kansas Gatorade Player of the Year.[3] He committed to playing college basketball for Kansas over offers from Kansas State, Illinois and Missouri, among others.[4]
On April 4, 2022, the school declared that day Christian Braun Day.[5]
As a freshman at Kansas, Braun averaged 5.3 points and 2.9 rebounds per game, earning Big 12 All-Freshman Team honors.[6] On November 27, 2020, he recorded a career-high 30 points, nine rebounds and four steals in a 94–72 win over Saint Joseph's.[7] As a sophomore, Braun averaged 9.7 points and 5.2 rebounds per game.[8] He was named to the Second Team All-Big 12 as a junior.[9] In the Final Four against Villanova, he became the 65th player to reach 1,000 points for Kansas, finishing that game with 10 points and helping the Jayhawks reach the championship. In the championship game against the North Carolina Tar Heels, he had 12 points and 12 rebounds for his fifth double-double of the season, which helped Kansas rally from a 40–25 halftime deficit. In the final possession of that game, he defended Caleb Love's three-point attempt, sealing the win and giving him his first NCAA title.[10] On April 24, 2022, Braun declared for the 2022 NBA draft, while maintaining his college eligiblity.[11] On May 25, 2022, he confirmed he would remain in the NBA draft and forego his senior season.[12]
Braun was picked by the Denver Nuggets with the 21st overall pick in the 2022 NBA draft.
| GP | Games played | GS | Games started | MPG | Minutes per game |
| FG% | Field goal percentage | 3P% | 3-point field goal percentage | FT% | Free throw percentage |
| RPG | Rebounds per game | APG | Assists per game | SPG | Steals per game |
| BPG | Blocks per game | PPG | Points per game | Bold | Career high |
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019–20 | Kansas | 31 | 5 | 18.4 | .431 | .444 | .731 | 2.9 | .5 | .7 | .2 | 5.3 |
| 2020–21 | Kansas | 30 | 30 | 31.2 | .380 | .340 | .786 | 5.2 | 1.9 | 1.2 | .4 | 9.7 |
| 2021–22 | Kansas | 40 | 39 | 34.4 | .495 | .386 | .733 | 6.5 | 2.8 | 1.0 | .8 | 14.1 |
| Career | 101 | 74 | 28.5 | .449 | .378 | .749 | 5.0 | 1.8 | 1.0 | .5 | 10.1 | |
Braun's brother, Parker, as well as his mother, aunt and uncle, have played college basketball for Missouri. Parker currently plays for Santa Clara University. His mother's family was inducted into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame.[14] He also has two brothers, one older and one younger.[15]
Braun launched a fashion line, THE CB2 Collection.[16]
Denver Nuggets roster | |
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Kansas Jayhawks men's basketball 2021–22 NCAA champions | |
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