Christian Braun’s preseason has the Nuggets staring at a tough but obvious question: how long can they keep running him heavy minutes if the production doesn’t show up?
After a breakout 2024-25 season, Braun has been one of the early disappointments of Denver’s 2025-26 campaign. The buzz out of training camp was that he had made real progress, especially after spending the offseason talking up his work on his three-point shot. But through three preseason games, that improvement still hasn’t shown up when the lights are on.
The numbers are rough. Braun is averaging 4.3 points while shooting 37.5% from the floor, and he’s 1-for-9 from three, which comes out to 12.5%. That’s a long way from what the Nuggets hoped for after his offseason focus on extending his range.
It hasn’t been just the offense, either. Braun hasn’t looked fully like himself on the defensive end.
The explosiveness is there, but he has mostly flashed it in spurts, with his lone standout burst coming on a transition dunk in the preseason opener against the Utah Jazz. He probably isn’t in danger of losing his starting job right now, but if this stretch continues, Denver should at least start thinking about shrinking his role.
What makes the conversation more interesting is that Braun isn’t the only wing or guard making a case for minutes. Alpha Diallo and Julian Strawther have both been more productive so far, and they’re forcing the issue in different ways.
Strawther has been the cleaner offensive answer. He’s averaging 14 points, shooting 46.9% overall and 43.8% from deep, and he’s looked like the best scoring option coming off the bench. With the opportunities he’s getting, he’s clearly taking a step forward this preseason.
Diallo, meanwhile, has made his mark on the other end of the floor. He’s been the kind of disruptive defender the Nuggets haven’t seen much of in years.
He’s picking up the primary ball-handler on the inbound and making life miserable the moment the ball comes in. Against the Jazz, that pressure even helped force an 8-second backcourt violation.
Diallo is averaging 1.3 steals per game, getting into passing lanes, and he’s been one of the more entertaining players on the floor. He’s also hitting 50% of his threes, which has only strengthened his case as someone who has handled his role well.
DeMar DeRozan isn’t really part of this specific fight for Braun’s minutes. The veteran will get his time in a variety of spots. The real question is whether Denver wants more scoring with Strawther or more defense with Diallo while Braun works through this sluggish start.
If Braun doesn’t find his rhythm quickly once the regular season begins, head coach David Adelman may have to consider a real shake-up in the rotation. For now, Braun still has time to answer. But if the preseason is the guide, the Nuggets have better options waiting.
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Alpha Diallo and Julian Strawther are the two names still pushing for that opening, and both have made a case in different ways. Diallo has brought defensive versatility, while Strawther has answered with three-point shooting, leaving Denver with a familiar preseason dilemma: deciding whether the final bench chair should go to the player who changes the game with stops or the one who stretches the floor. [Read more 🡒]
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Bryce Hopkins has been part of that early edge, bringing a bruising style that helps put defenders in foul trouble. The next step is making the most of those trips, especially with bench players still working to clean up their free throw shooting. If Denver can keep forcing whistles and turn those chances into points, it could add another layer to an offense that already makes life hard for opposing teams. [Read more 🡒]
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The bigger picture for Denver is just how steady that advantage has become. Jokic turned in another strong statistical season and remains in position to chase a fourth MVP award if he can stay healthy, which would only add to his standing among the leagues elite. For the Nuggets, the appreciation is familiar, but it still matters each time an opponent says out loud what Denver has known for years: guarding Jokic is a miserable assignment, and there still does not seem to be a clean answer for it. [Read more 🡒]