The first five games have already sorted out a few things for the Denver Nuggets, even if the big picture is still cloudy. Denver opened 1-2, survived a 23-point comeback to beat the New Orleans Pelicans in overtime, and then steadied itself with back-to-back wins to move to 3-2. Injuries have kept the roster from being seen at full strength, but there’s enough here now to start separating the early winners from the early losers.
Christian Braun belongs firmly in the first group. After signing a five-year, $125 million extension last year, his production dipped hard, and last season he never quite found a rhythm.
This year looks different. Through five games, Braun is putting up 15.4 points, 4.2 rebounds, 2.0 assists, and 2.4 steals per game while shooting 52.5% from the field and 40% from three.
His biggest statement came in the win over the Phoenix Suns, when he dropped 31 points and hit 7 of 9 from deep for the best offensive game of his career. Braun had dealt with injuries during the 2025-26 season, and now that he’s healthy, he’s giving Denver the kind of two-way punch it needs.
There’s still room for more consistency, but the start has been encouraging.
Trevon Brazile has also made a strong early impression, and maybe then some. Denver took him with the 35th pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, and he has looked like far more than a second-round flyer.
Among rookies, he ranks tenth in points per game at 8.8, fifth in rebounds at 6.6, and fourth in blocks at 0.8, while shooting 51.6% from the field and 35.3% from beyond the arc. He has averaged 22.8 minutes because Spencer Jones has been out, and that opens up the next question: when Jones returns, does Brazile stay in the rotation?
The 23-year-old has done enough to make a strong case, but David Adelman and his staff will have a decision to make.
Tyus Jones, on the other hand, has not given Denver much reason to keep leaning on him. The Nuggets knew their backup ball-handling was a problem heading into the season, and by not fixing it in the offseason, they essentially bet on Jones as the second-string point guard.
So far, that bet has gone poorly. He’s averaging 2.4 points and 0.6 assists in 10 minutes per game, with shooting splits of 36.4% from the field and 33.3% from three.
Since he’s already limited defensively, the Nuggets need more from him on offense, and they’re not getting it. With the team rumored to have interest in free agent guard Kevin Porter Jr., according to The Stein Line, Jones could be losing ground fast.
DaRon Holmes is in an even tougher spot. Denver used a first-round pick on him in the 2024 NBA Draft, but his path has been rough from the start.
He missed his entire rookie season because of an injury and had trouble carving out steady minutes last year. Now, he’s out of the rotation entirely.
Through five games, Holmes has played just five total minutes and has already logged three DNP-CDs. The deadline for Denver to pick up his 2027-28 team option has passed, and it would be a surprise if he’s still with the Nuggets next year.
He hasn’t had much of a chance to prove himself, but right now the bench seems to be where Denver wants him.
In Other News...
Christian Braun Is Forcing A Bigger Nuggets Question Early
Christian Braun has come out of the gate looking every bit like a player ready to take on a larger role in Denvers rotation. Through the Nuggets first five games, he has blended scoring, spacing and defensive activity in a way that keeps him on the floor and in the conversation, whether he is finishing possessions or helping set the tone on the other end.
What makes this start more interesting is how closely it tracks his 2024-25 form, which suggests this is not just a hot week but a continuation of real growth. Braun has been active defensively, disruptive on the ball and steady enough offensively to make the Nuggets think about how much more responsibility he can handle as the season settles in. [Read more 🡒]
Nuggets Hot Shooting Is Hiding An Early Offensive Concern
The Nuggets got a welcome jolt from the perimeter in their recent win over the Suns, with Jamal Murray and Christian Braun both catching fire from deep and helping turn a sluggish offensive start into something far more familiar. It was the kind of night that can make a team look as if it has found its rhythm again, especially when the shots are falling and the ball is moving with purpose.
But the bigger issue is still lurking underneath the hot shooting. Denver has not been finishing nearly enough possessions around the rim, and through five games the paint scoring has lagged well behind where it usually sits for a team built around Nikola Jokic. Even with the outside shot carrying more of the load, the Nuggets know they will need more consistent production in the lane if they want the offense to look like itself over the long haul. [Read more 🡒]
Nuggets Already Have A Backup Guard Problem They Can't Ignore
The Nuggets early bench look has already put a spotlight on one of the trickier rotation questions around the backcourt. Tyus Jones was brought in to steady second-unit minutes, but his role has been limited so far, and the pairing with DeMar DeRozan has not given Denver the kind of two-way lift it needs when the starters sit. DeRozans defense has been a concern, as expected, and the overall fit has left the Nuggets searching for a better answer.
What makes the issue more pressing is how much the team is leaning on Jamal Murray to carry the load in the meantime. Denver is already exploring other ways to handle backup point guard minutes, which suggests the current setup is not something it can simply ride out. For a team with real postseason ambitions, getting that reserve guard spot right may end up mattering a lot more than it did on paper. [Read more 🡒]