Christian Braun’s offseason reset is already giving the Nuggets reason to believe.
The biggest question hanging over Denver heading into camp was whether Braun would show real growth in year one of his five-year, $125 million contract. Early signs are encouraging. He has looked sharp in training camp, and the bounce that went missing last season appears to be back.
Braun said at the Nuggets’ media day that he was feeling fine after a long season of injuries in 2025-26, and that wasn’t just empty optimism. He also talked about improving his three-point shot, while continuing to work on his ball control - a development that would only make him more useful to Denver this season.
Head coach David Adelman was asked whether Braun “looked like the old Christian,” and he didn’t blink. “Exactly. Especially the explosion,” Adelman said.
That “explosion” mattered. Its absence was a big reason Braun slipped last season, and it showed up in more than one area of his game.
He was less effective in transition and as a cutter, and the dip also hurt him on defense. That was a major issue in the first round of the playoffs against the Minnesota Timberwolves, when Braun couldn’t get stops and Denver was sent packing.
Adelman has also made ball handling a priority, and Braun helping bring the ball up the floor would ease some of the pressure on Jamal Murray. That kind of extra responsibility would be another step forward for Braun, and another sign that he’s moving back toward the player Denver expected.
There’s no hiding the fact that last year was a disappointment for Braun, and he’s carrying that with him. He’s also going into this season with a chip on his shoulder after all the criticism that has come his way. But if the rebound is real, the Nuggets are in a much better spot.
A healthy Braun could clean up the defensive problems that hurt Denver last spring. He was an excellent defender two years ago, and the expectation is that he can get back to that level. If he does more than that - if he truly takes a leap - the Nuggets will have a much better chance of making a deep playoff run.
In Other News...
Nuggets Guard Rotation Just Got More Interesting Behind Jamal Murray
The Nuggets made a small but meaningful roster tweak this week, adding 23-year-old point guard Ryan Nembhard on a two-way contract as they continue shaping the guard mix behind Jamal Murray. To make room, Denver waived KJ Simpson, a move that underscores how seriously the team is taking the search for backcourt depth and steady ballhandling as training camp continues.
Nembhard arrived with some momentum after a notable rookie season with the Dallas Mavericks, and he has already been around the Nuggets' camp with an eye on broadening his game. He has talked about sharpening his defense and shooting, while veteran forward Cameron Johnson has pointed to the way Nembhard can create for others and bring another dimension to the lineup. [Read more 🡒]
David Adelman Shares What Nuggets Took From Coach Prime Visit
Deion Sanders made a stop at Nuggets training camp practice this week, bringing a little cross-sport energy to a group already settling into its preseason work. David Adelman said the visit mattered because Sanders did not just show up for a photo opportunity, but shared a message the team could take into the grind of the year ahead, the kind of reminder that tends to land when it comes from someone who has spent so much time around high-level competition.
Sanders also singled out Nikola Jokic during the visit, praising the star centers performance and reliability in the biggest moments. For the Nuggets, hearing that kind of respect from one of Colorados most recognizable coaches only adds to the sense that Jokics reputation reaches well beyond basketball, even as Adelman and company continue building toward the season with those outside voices floating through the gym. [Read more 🡒]
Ryan Nembhard Already Has A Sneaky Important Role For Denver
Ryan Nembhard may not be in Denver for the sort of headline-grabbing role that turns heads in October, but he already has a clear job in camp. Coach David Adelman said the guard will be used in practice as a quick, pesky test case, the kind of smaller ballhandler the Nuggets need to handle better as they sharpen their pick-and-roll defense. It is the sort of behind-the-scenes assignment that can matter in a league where so many problems start with a guard getting downhill too easily.
The fit makes plenty of sense after Nembhards performance against Denver last season with Dallas, when he gave the Nuggets trouble as a playmaker and scorer. Denver has been looking closely at how to defend faster guards, and rookie Alpha Diallo has been part of the defensive example the staff wants to lean on. Nembhards role may be temporary and mostly internal, but for a team trying to get sturdier at the point of attack, those reps can carry real weight. [Read more 🡒]