Christian Braun’s offseason is centered on one thing: getting that ankle right.
After a 2025-26 season that went sideways for the Denver Nuggets largely because of injuries, Braun is back home rehabbing and says he’s on track to return stronger next year. The timing matters. Denver just committed $125 million over five years to him, and then a severe ankle sprain derailed the season almost immediately.
“I've been back home rehabbing,” Braun told AltitudeTV's Katy Winge at Las Vegas Summer League. “Obviously [the season] didn't go how we wanted to as far as health went, but we're gonna bounce back. Been working hard on that ankle and getting all that stuff back to where it's supposed to be.”
Braun was one of several key Nuggets who missed significant time. Nikola Jokic sat out 19 games, Aaron Gordon missed 46, Cameron Johnson missed 28, and Peyton Watson missed 28. In all, five of Denver’s top seven scorers lost a meaningful chunk of the season, and Braun ended up being one of the most affected.
He appeared in 44 games and averaged 12.0 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 2.7 assists while shooting 51.9/30.1/78.2. But even those numbers don’t fully tell the story, because Braun was dealing with the injury for much of the year. The version Denver got was not the one it expected after handing him that extension.
The season’s frustrations carried over into the playoffs, where the Nuggets dropped a first-round series to a severely shorthanded Minnesota Timberwolves team. Braun’s production in the final four games of that series was uneven: 3 points on 1-for-4 shooting, 9 points on 3-for-5 shooting, 8 points on 2-for-4 shooting, and 2 points on 0-for-4 shooting.
Still, Braun is looking ahead rather than dwelling on what went wrong. He said his offseason work has been about more than just the ankle, though that remains the priority.
“I’m just working on all the things, all-around game. Whatever it is, shooting,” Braun said. “I think the biggest thing is the ankle and getting back healthy, and I know I’ll do that, and everything else will get back to where it’s supposed to be.”
He also told DNVR Nuggets' Harrison Wind, “Sometimes it's good to get punched in the mouth a little bit. It's good to have that little setback.
Definitely motivated. Definitely excited for the summer.
Just got to attack the ankle and make sure the ankle's in a good spot. I know I'll bounce back and I know who I am as a player so I'm really excited.”
Braun added that he doesn’t handle losses lightly and believes the Nuggets will respond.
“I don't take any loss very well,” Braun said. “If you know anything about us and our team and our group, we're resilient. We're going to bounce back.”
For Denver, the hope is simple: better health, a healthier Braun, and a roster that can finally show what it was supposed to be. The offseason has been quiet, which has left some fans uneasy, but there are still reasons to believe the Nuggets can make a real push next season.
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The challenge for Denver is that interest only matters if the return matches Watsons value, and that is where the standoff begins. The Nuggets have made it clear they are not looking to move him cheaply, while Watsons camp is pushing for a deal that reflects his rise, leaving Denver to weigh whether to keep a player it likes or find a package that justifies parting with him. [Read more 🡒]