Former KU star Christian Braun reflects on time under Bill Self ahead of NBA Finals

Christian Braun says he considers himself fortunate to have played three seasons for Bill Self at the University of Kansas followed by an NBA rookie season being led by Michael Malone of the Denver Nuggets.

“They are similar for sure — kind of like old school the way they teach things, the way they go about things. I like that. I think that’s the coaching style I prefer,” Braun, a 22-year-old Blue Valley Northwest graduate, said Saturday at a Denver Nuggets NBA playoffs media availability in Colorado.

Braun, completing his first year as a professional following a standout college career, is patiently awaiting the conclusion of the Boston-Miami Eastern Conference Finals series to determine the Nuggets’ opponent in the NBA Finals, which begin Thursday.

“They will both tell you when you’re wrong, but they will also tell you when you’re doing things right,” Braun said of the 60-year-old Self and 51-year-old Malone. ”They are tough on you. They are funny. They like to joke around. They keep things lighthearted, but they really want to win. Those are two of the most competitive people I’ve been around since I started playing basketball.”

After winning the 2022 NCAA title with Self at the controls, the 6-foot-6, 220-pound Braun now has a chance to become the fifth player in history to win the NCAA Tournament and NBA Finals in back-to-back years.

The others? Bill Russell (San Francisco 1956, Boston Celtics 1957), Henry Bibby (UCLA 1972, New York Knicks 1973), Magic Johnson (Michigan State 1979, L.A. Lakers 1980) and Billy Thompson (Louisville 1986, L.A. Lakers 1987).

“Coach Self, that’s all he’s about and all he’s done,” Braun said of Self’s winning nature. “Coach Malone is the same way. You guys see coach Malone get so frustrated because he wants to win so bad and that goes for everybody on the team. Everybody on the team is at the point of their career where we want to win, just like I always want to win.”

Remember, Braun won three state titles at Blue Valley Northwest and two Big 12 regular-season titles at KU to go with the national college title.

“Just coming off that championship and having a chance to get another one, we are all in the same place and I think there’s similarities with everybody’s mindset,” Braun said. “So coach Self and (Malone) are similar but I think everybody is similar and I like our competitiveness with this team.”

Braun stated there are “a lot of differences” in trying to secure an NCAA title versus an NBA crown.

“Just with how the games are set up, and college is one-game elimination and this is obviously a series,” said Braun of the best-of-seven final.

“In the NCAA Tournament, it’s one game. So, there’s a lot of pressure on that one game. And here there’s a lot of ups and downs. We have had series where we win two and we think we are up 2-0, it’s a big lead, and then you go lose two on the road. It’s completely different. But the same pressure, the same fun atmosphere, fun environment and the fans at both levels have been great. I’ve been blessed to have that opportunity to win at the highest level.”

Braun — he averaged 4.7 points and 2.4 rebounds his rookie season in the NBA after putting up 14.1 points and 6.5 rebounds per contest his junior year at KU — noted that in the NBA, “you have to be more keyed in on personnel and with players’ tendencies. In college, you’re more set on sets and things like that.”

Continued Braun: “I think (it’s) just (about) being ready to win, and we have guys that do what it takes to put ourselves in that position. We’ve got talented guys. It’s all the same thing. Every time you go out there, we are just trying to win.”

Which brings us to Braun vying for the college and NBA crowns in back-to-back years — a rare accomplishment indeed.

“Winning is obviously more fun for everybody,” Braun said, adding that he is enjoying both his fit with the Denver Nuggets and the opportunity to win right away. “I couldn’t imagine a better spot to be. The people around you, obviously I enjoy them and just this team.”

Braun — in the playoffs he’s averaged 2.3 points and 2.1 rebounds in 11.8 minutes per game — has been effective on the defensive end.

For instance he had four steals in 14 minutes in Game 1 of the Western Conference finals versus Phoenix. He guarded Kevin Durant and Devin Booker some in that series, which Denver won 4-2.

“I tell (Nuggets guard) Jamal Murray this all the time: ... Go score 40. I don’t care how many points I score, but just let me help you out on defense,” Braun said. “I think that I did similar things in college. Obviously, I scored more in the role, but it was similar my freshman year. I didn’t have that same scoring role. I was on a good team my freshman year and I was more a piece to a really good team —and just making energy and effort plays in the time that I get, whether it’s two minutes, five minutes, 20 minutes.”

Braun’s Nuggets teammates have said he brings an important intangible to the team: his desire and ability to win.

“I’ve got good teammates. I’ve had really good coaches,” Braun said. “Like I said, every system I’ve gone into, whether it was AAU or it was up to the NBA, every system I’ve went into was a winning culture and was a team that demanded certain things of you.

“So, I’m not going to sit here and say it was me coming in and changing anything. It was me coming in and adapting to what was already set up before I got there. KU had a culture set up when I got there, and I was just really easily able to adapt to that, and I think I would say the same thing for here.

“Like when I got drafted (No. 21 overall in 2022 Draft), I knew, hey, this team is the most talented team in the NBA, especially that starting five. ... There’s no secret thing, but just joining a culture and being able to adapt is how you get on the court.”