Former KU star Christian Braun not satisfied with NBA title with Nuggets: ‘I want more’

So much of Christian Braun’s game revolves around the defiant swagger he carries on the basketball court, a hunger to prove those who doubted him wrong.

After winning the NBA championship in his rookie season with the Denver Nuggets and becoming just the fifth player in history to win NCAA and NBA titles in back-to-back years, it might seem like Braun’s doubters might be in short supply.

After all, counting the three Kansas high school state titles he won at Blue Valley Northwest, Braun has won championships in five of his last seven years.

Don’t worry, the motivation is still as strong as ever for the Burlington native and former Kansas star who helped deliver a national title to the Jayhawks in 2022.

“There’s always going to be people who are going to doubt that I can step into an even bigger role next year,” Braun told The Eagle after an autograph signing in Las Vegas during NBA Summer League. “Winning doesn’t satisfy me because I always want to get better, so I’m always going to carry that chip with me. I’m not going to relax. I know people still have their doubts about me being in a bigger role, so I’m excited to keep working.”

The No. 21 pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, Braun averaged 4.7 points and 2.4 rebounds in 15.5 minutes per game as a rookie. After falling out of the playoff rotation in the Western Conference Finals, Braun saved his best performances for the NBA Finals against the Miami Heat.

Braun scored a playoff career-high 15 points to help the Nuggets win Game 3, then added seven points and three rebounds in the close-out game to secure Denver’s victory.

Nearly a month has passed since the latest championship experience for Braun, who says he is soaking everything in.

“This is the life I wanted to live my whole life,” Braun said. “To be in this position, I’m very blessed and very fortunate to have the people I have in my life. This is definitely not a Christian Braun thing. This is about everybody around me. I’m blessed to have the teammates I’ve had, the coaches I’ve had. I’m just a kid from Burlington who dreamed about this when I was playing in the Burlington Rec Center.

“I’m blessed, but not satisfied. I want more (championships). The more I win, it makes me want to win more.”

Braun succeeded in his bit role during his rookie season, knocking down 49.5% of his shots and 35.4% of his three-pointers. After the free agency dust settled and the Nuggets’ roster was all but finalized for the upcoming season, it’s clear Braun will be asked to play a larger role in his second season.

How much of an increase in playing time likely depends on how ready he is. It’s a challenge that he’s more than up for, Braun said.

“I’m going to do whatever my team needs me to,” Braun said. “I’m a guy that can do a little bit of everything. I can play defense and be a complimentary player alongside stars like Jamal (Murray) and Nikola (Jokic) and all of the pieces that we have.

“I have to play a certain role and I think every year, I’m going to try to carve out a bigger role and do whatever they need me to do.”