Christian Braun Thinks Getting Beat Down Might Be the Best Thing for the Nuggets

The Denver Nuggets spent last season dealing with injuries, roster inconsistencies, and a first-round playoff exit nobody in the organization saw coming. But guard Christian Braun isn’t panicking. In fact, he’s almost grateful for the sting.

Speaking to DNVR’s Harrison Wind, Braun didn’t sugarcoat the team’s early exit against Minnesota. He also didn’t dodge his own health issues. Braun played just 44 games last season after dealing with a nagging ankle problem. But he framed the whole experience as the kind of wake-up call a good team needs.

“Sometimes it’s good to get punched in the mouth a little bit,” Braun said. “It’s good to have that little setback. Definitely motivated. Definitely excited for the summer. Just got to attack the ankle and make sure the ankle’s in a good spot. I know I’ll bounce back, and I know who I am as a player, so I’m really excited.”

Braun’s confidence isn’t just talk. The 23-year-old wing was a key piece in Denver’s 2023 championship run. His defense and energy off the bench gave the Nuggets a jolt that teams struggled to match. Last season, that spark was missing more often than not. He’s betting a healthy summer fixes that.

“I’m going to be OK. I’m always going to be OK,” Braun said. “It’s in the past. It is what it is at this point. This team is resilient. This team is really good. It’s a championship-built roster. We’re excited for next year. We’re excited to compete. We’re excited to be healthy.”

Roster questions still hanging around

Denver looks likely to bring back most of the same group from last season. But there’s still time for a move or two before training camp. One name to watch is Peyton Watson. He’s a restricted free agent, and while the Nuggets can match any offer sheet he signs, there’s also talk they’d be open to moving him for the right trade package. That’s the kind of situation that can drag out deep into the summer.

The Western Conference isn’t getting any easier. Oklahoma City is young and hungry. Minnesota just proved it can bully Denver. Dallas made the Finals. The Nuggets can’t just show up healthy and assume things fix themselves. But Braun sounds like someone who’s ready to push back after getting knocked down.

That’s a good place to start.