Christian Braun is spending part of his summer the way a lot of injured players do: grinding through rehab, then taking a brief detour to watch the next wave of Nuggets hopefuls at NBA Summer League in Las Vegas.
And the update he gave Denver media was encouraging. Braun said he expects to be fully healed from the torn ligaments in his left ankle by the time training camp opens. The injury, suffered in a game last Nov. 12, lingered through much of last season and helped define a frustrating year for the Nuggets guard.
“I’ve been back home rehabbing. I’m in Kansas.
That’s where I love to be. I’ve been working on all the things - my all-around game, whatever it is, shooting,” Braun, a 6-foot-6, 25-year-old former University of Kansas and Blue Valley Northwest standout told Altitude TV.
Braun appeared in only 44 games in 2025-26 because of the ankle issue. He said the injury kept him in a boot for three weeks and on crutches for two more. He also reportedly dealt with a calf injury in the first game of the playoff series against Minnesota, a series the Timberwolves won in six games.
“The biggest thing is the ankle and getting back healthy. I know I’ll do that,” Braun stated. “Everything else will get back to where it’s supposed to be.”
The fourth-year Nugget finished the regular season averaging 12.0 points, 4.8 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game. In the first-round playoff loss to Minnesota, he averaged 8.3 points while shooting 41.7% across six games, including two points in Game 3 and three in Game 6.
“Obviously I think the whole year was what it was. It was kind of my first time with a health struggle,” Braun said.
Now Braun is entering the first season of the five-year, $125 million extension he signed, and he’s doing so with a clear focus on helping Denver rebound from a quick playoff exit. The Nuggets went 54-28 in the regular season, but injuries kept piling up all year long.
Braun missed 38 games. Aaron Gordon missed 46.
Peyton Watson missed 28. Cam Johnson missed 28.
Nikola Jokic missed 19.
“It (stunk). It’s not something I’ve dealt with,” Braun told the Denver Post, talking about the time he spent out of the lineup. In his first three seasons, he played in 76, 82 and 79 games.
“It’s not something I’ve been through. The rehab process is not something I’ve been through.
I’ve never been a part of the injured bunch. I’ve been a part on the other end, where you’re on the court trying to keep things afloat.
But it’s tough. I don’t think any of the injuries were preventable things.
It was just tough breaks.”
Even with all that, Braun said the group managed the adversity well.
“Sometimes it’s good to get punched in the mouth a little bit,” Braun told DNVR Sports. It’s good to have that little setback.
I’m definitely motivated, definitely excited for the summer. This team is resilient.
This team is really good. It’s a championship built roster.
We’re excited for next year. We’re excited to compete.”
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