Mike Malone warned: Even though Kentavious Caldwell-Pope is gone and everything indicates that Christian Braun will be the Nuggets' starting guard next year, the coach does not intend to give him this position as a gift.
“I have to tear it out” the person concerned assures uswho rediscovered the taste of defeat this season. “It’s not written in stone that I’m going to be a starter, and I don’t see it that way. Ever. I have to prove things to myself, over and over again. I haven’t done anything in this league yet. I know I won a title, but I still have so much to do, so much to give. This group (of starters) fits well with my game, but also with others. So, like I said, I have to snatch it. I have to earn that spot this summer, in training camp.”
An approach that will obviously please his coach, Mike Malone, even if there is little doubt that Christian Braun will recover the starting full-back spot.
A profile similar to KCP
This is what GM Calvin Booth was suggesting, even before Kentavious Caldwell-Pope left…
“If you look at our roster, Christian Braun has one of the best net ratings in the league… If Kentavious Caldwell-Pope doesn't come back, with Braun in the starting five, we can get by.”
Because Christian Braun has qualities similar to those of “KCP”, for a profile (good defender, capable of cutting and shooting from afar) that adapts well to that of Nikola Jokic. The key point for the Nuggets.
“We are very similar, in my opinion,” he confirms about Kentavious Caldwell-Pope. “Defensively, we’re a pain. Offensively, we complement Nikola. And that’s why they brought us in. I was recruited to play with those guys, and he was recruited. I think I’m going to do a good job, like he did. I’m excited. Excited to have this opportunity, even though, like I said, I have to earn it.”
| Christian Braun | Percentage | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | LF | Off | Def | Early | Pd | Party | Int | Bp | Ct | Pts |
| 2022-23 | DEN | 76 | 16 | 49.5 | 35.4 | 62.5 | 0.6 | 1.8 | 2.4 | 0.8 | 1.3 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.2 | 4.7 |
| 2023-24 | DEN | 82 | 20 | 46.0 | 38.4 | 69.4 | 1.0 | 2.8 | 3.7 | 1.6 | 1.7 | 0.5 | 0.7 | 0.4 | 7.3 |
| Total | 158 | 18 | 47.3 | 37.3 | 67.2 | 0.8 | 2.3 | 3.1 | 1.2 | 1.5 | 0.5 | 0.6 | 0.3 | 6.1 | |
How to read the stats? GM = Games Played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Shots Made / Shots Attempted; 3pts = 3-pointers / 3-pointers Attempted; LF = Free Throws Made / Free Throws Attempted; Off = Offensive Rebound; Def = Defensive Rebound; Tot = Total Rebounds; Pd = Assists; Fte: Personal Fouls; Int = Steals; Bp = Loose Balls; Ct: Blocks; Pts = Points.
