Nuggets’ Christian Braun showing ‘he’s a winner’ on biggest stage
Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray of the Denver Nuggets made NBA history on Wednesday night as they became the first teammates in the Finals to record a 30-point triple-double each. However, it was the rookie Christian Braun who really caught the attention after nailing seven out of eight shots and scoring a personal playoff-high of 15 points in 19 minutes off the bench. The Nuggets took the lead in the series with a 2-1 win over the Miami Heat on Wednesday night in Miami, and Jokic had nothing but praise for Braun after the game. “Christian Braun had [an] amazing game. I told him, ‘You won us the game,’” said Jokic, who scored 32 points, had 21 rebounds and made 10 assists in the match.
Braun, who won the NCAA Championship with the Kansas Jayhawks last year, was Denver’s first-round selection (21st overall) in June 2020. He averaged 4.7 points in 15.5 minutes over 76 regular-season appearances, but has been an important factor in Denver’s playoff run. “Christian has proved himself all year long, and he was in the rotation end of the season,” said the Denver coach, Michael Malone. “If you look around, there’s not many rookies playing meaningful minutes in the NBA this time of year, and it speaks to Christian’s confidence. It speaks to him being a winner.”
Braun has certainly proved his worth in the NBA Finals and has been crucial in both Game 2 and Game 3, scoring a combined total of 23 points on 10-for-11 shooting from the floor. Veteran teammate Aaron Gordon is impressed with Braun’s abilities, calling him a “real winner” who is always in the right place at the right time.
FAQs:
Who won Game 3 of the 2021 NBA Finals between the Denver Nuggets and Miami Heat?
The Denver Nuggets won Game 3, thanks in part to a great performance from rookie Christian Braun.
Who made history in Game 3 of the 2021 NBA Finals?
Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray of the Denver Nuggets became the first teammates in the history of the NBA – and the Finals – to each record a 30-point triple-double.
Who is Christian Braun?
Christian Braun is a rookie basketball player who was drafted by the Denver Nuggets in the first round of the 2020 NBA draft. He previously won the NCAA Championship with the Kansas Jayhawks in 2020.
How has Christian Braun performed in the NBA Finals?
Christian Braun has been impressive in the NBA Finals, scoring a combined total of 23 points on 10-for-11 shooting from the floor in Game 2 and Game 3. He has also been praised for his confidence and winning mentality by his coach and teammates.
Christian Braun of the Nuggets proves to be a victorious player on the grandest stage.
Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray made history in the NBA Finals by each recording a 30-point triple-double, a first in the league’s history. However, it was rookie Christian Braun who stole the show and won Game 3 for the Denver Nuggets, according to Jokic. Braun scored a personal playoff-high 15 points in 19 minutes off the bench, leading his team to a 2-1 series lead over the Miami Heat on Wednesday night.
Braun was selected as the 21st overall pick by the Nuggets last June, just two months after winning the NCAA Tournament with the Kansas Jayhawks. At 6-foot-7, the wing has emerged as a valuable role player complementing Denver’s star duo of Jokic and Murray. Despite averaging just 4.7 points in 15.5 minutes over 76 regular-season appearances, Braun has earned the trust of his teammates and coach, regularly featuring in the rotation throughout the playoffs.
“Christian has proved himself all year long, and he was in the rotation end of season. He’s been in the rotation throughout these 18 playoff games now,” said coach Michael Malone. “Tonight, man, I could just feel the confidence kind of oozing out of him, the physical, aggressive drives, making plays for guys against their zone. It was really fun to watch a young man step up like the way Christian did.”
Braun, who also won three state championships at his Kansas high school, has shown a winning mentality and confidence that has impressed both his teammates and coach. He also drew the defensive assignment against Heat star Jimmy Butler in Game 3, showing his versatility on the court.
“He’s a very rare rookie,” said veteran teammate Aaron Gordon. “From Day 1, he’s been on top of it. This is a real winner right here. He’s in the right place at the right time on the biggest stage, and now you guys are getting to see it.”