Christian Braun is an American professional basketball player who plays as a shooting guard and small forward for the Denver Nuggets in the NBA. Born on April 17, 2001, in Burlington, Kansas, he stands 6 feet 6 inches tall and weighs 218 pounds.
Early Life and Education
Braun attended Blue Valley Northwest High School in Overland Park, Kansas, where he averaged 27.8 points, 9.3 rebounds, and 3.8 assists per game during his senior year. His performance led his team to a third consecutive Class 6A state title, earning him the titles of Mr. Kansas Basketball and Kansas Gatorade Player of the Year. He committed to the University of Kansas for his college basketball career.
College Career
At the University of Kansas, Braun played for the Kansas Jayhawks from 2019 to 2022. In his freshman year, he averaged 5.3 points and 2.9 rebounds per game, earning a spot on the Big 12 All-Freshman Team. His sophomore year saw improvements, with averages of 9.7 points and 5.2 rebounds per game.
In his junior year, he averaged 14.1 points and 6.5 rebounds per game, earning Second-Team All-Big 12 honors. Braun played a pivotal role in Kansas’s 2022 NCAA championship win, notably contributing 12 points and 12 rebounds in the championship game against North Carolina.
Professional Career
Braun was selected by the Denver Nuggets as the 21st overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft. In his rookie season (2022–2023), he played 76 regular-season games, starting in six, and averaged 4.7 points, 2.4 rebounds, and 0.8 assists per game. He was part of the Nuggets team that clinched the NBA championship in 2023, becoming the fifth player in history to win both NCAA and NBA titles in consecutive seasons.
The following season (2023–2024), Braun’s role expanded; he played all 82 regular-season games, starting in four, and averaged 7.3 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 1.6 assists per game.
Personal Life
Christian Braun comes from a family with a rich basketball background. His older brother, Parker, played basketball at the University of Missouri and Santa Clara University. His father, Donny, was a former walk-on at the University of Kansas, and his mother, Lisa Sandbothe, also played basketball at Missouri. Beyond basketball, Braun has launched a fashion line called The CB2 Collection.
Recent Developments
As of March 2025, Braun is recognized as one of the NBA’s most efficient scorers, with discussions about his potential candidacy for the Most Improved Player award.