KU basketball’s Christian Braun wins NBA title (and makes history) with Denver Nuggets

Christian Braun, a starter on Kansas’ 2022 NCAA men’s basketball championship team, is now an NBA champion — a world champion — in his rookie season with the Denver Nuggets.

The 22-year-old Braun on Monday night became just the fifth player in hoops history to win an NCAA title and NBA crown in back-to-back seasons.

He joined the exclusive club with Bill Russell, Henry Bibby, Magic Johnson and Billy Thompson after coming off the bench and playing 24 productive minutes in Denver’s 94-89 finals-clinching victory over Miami in Ball Arena in Downtown Denver. Thompson had been the last to accomplish the back-to-back feat with Louisville in 1986 and the Los Angeles Lakers in ’87.

Braun — the 6-foot-6 wing scored seven points and grabbed three rebounds Monday in helping Denver eliminate Miami 4-1 — became the 15th KU player in history to win an NBA championship.

“It feels great,” Braun said after the game, holding the NBA title trophy. “I’m blessed to be in this position. I meant to win it for the guys in this locker room. That’s what I’m most proud of. To be around a group like this and to win this ... (the) accomplishment feels great.”

He won his first NBA title with his college coach, Hall of Famer Bill Self, cheering from the stands. Before the game, Self wrote on Twitter: “Could be fun tonight in Denver.”

Self and KU assistant Kurtis Townsend congratulated Braun with hugs after the contest.

Five Jayhawks have won both NCAA and NBA titles throughout history. They are: Braun, Clyde Lovellette (KU 1952, Minneapolis Lakers 1954 and Boston Celtics 1963, ’64), Mario Chalmers (KU 2008, Miami Heat 2012 and ‘13), Brandon Rush (KU 2008, Golden State 2015) and Sasha Kaun (KU 2008, Cleveland Cavaliers 2016).

Other Jayhawks to win at least one NBA title: Maurice King (Boston Celtics 1960); Wilt Chamberlain (Philadelphia 76ers 1967, Los Angeles Lakers 1972); Jo Jo White (Boston Celtics 1974 and ’76); Bill Bridges (Golden State Warriors 1975); Wayne Simien (Miami Heat 2006); Jacque Vaughn (San Antonio Spurs 2007); Paul Pierce (Boston Celtics 2008); Scot Pollard (Boston Celtics 2008); Markieff Morris (Los Angeles Lakers 2020) and Andrew Wiggins (Golden State Warriors 2022).

Braun also won three Kansas state high school titles at Blue Valley Northwest.

Denver selected Braun No. 21 overall in the 2022 NBA Draft. He had a stellar rookie season, averaging 4.7 points, 2.4 rebounds and 15.5 minutes in 76 regular season games (six starts).

Braun, the brother of incoming KU transfer forward Parker Braun, hit 49.5% of his shots including 35.4% from three in the regular season. He played in 19 playoff games, averaging 3.2 points and 2.1 rebounds. Braun hit 53.3% of his shots in the playoffs.

He was one of the heroes of a Game 3 finals victory in Miami, scoring 15 points on 7-of-8 shooting in 19 minutes.

Braun played three seasons at Kansas (2019-20 to 2021-22). In Kansas’ 2022 national championship season, Braun averaged 14.1 points and 6.5 rebounds per game. The two-time academic first team all-Big 12 selection was an All-Big 12 second-team pick and was on the all-tournament teams for the Big 12 championship and the NCAA Tournament Midwest Regional.

In his three seasons at KU, Braun played in 101 games with 74 starts and had 1,018 career points, 506 rebounds, 183 assists and 97 steals.