{"id":596626,"date":"2026-02-11T12:27:17","date_gmt":"2026-02-11T12:27:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/596626\/"},"modified":"2026-02-11T12:27:17","modified_gmt":"2026-02-11T12:27:17","slug":"christian-braun-breaks-down-stop-and-start-recovery-from-injury-with-nuggets-nba-insider-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/596626\/","title":{"rendered":"Christian Braun breaks down stop-and-start recovery from injury with Nuggets | NBA Insider"},"content":{"rendered":"

Denver Gazette beat writer Vinny Benedetto takes you around the NBA and inside the Nuggets locker room:<\/p>\n

NBA Insider<\/p>\n

Numbers never lie, but sometimes they mislead.<\/p>\n

Christian Braun in Monday\u2019s loss to the Cavaliers scored more than 10 points for the first time since suffering a serious ankle sprain against the Clippers on Nov. 12. That doesn\u2019t mean he\u2019s feeling better than he has in the previous six games.<\/p>\n

\u201cObviously, people are going to say that, because it\u2019s my best scoring game, but it\u2019s not the best it\u2019s felt,\u201d Braun admitted Monday after the Nuggets\u2019 defeat. \u201cIt\u2019s just going to continue to get better. I got to be better with my rehab stuff and continue to make progress.\u201d<\/p>\n

The best Braun felt since the injury, he said, was the second time he returned to the court this season, which came against the Pistons on Feb. 3. He originally returned for a few games in early January before determining he wasn\u2019t where he needed to be to have his desired impact. He scored a total of eight points on 14 shots in 79 combined minutes against the Nets, Celtics and Hawks before returning to the sideline for roughly another month.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s pretty easy to see the first time I came back, I just wasn\u2019t ready in a lot of places,\u201d Braun said. \u201cI wasn\u2019t ready. The ankle wasn\u2019t explosive enough. I think for my game, and the way I want to play and the players I have to guard, you need that ankle to be explosive. It just wasn\u2019t the first time. \u2026 It\u2019s not quite explosive enough yet, but it\u2019s much better than it was the first time.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"Denver Nuggets guard Christian Braun (0) jumps up to greet fellow starter Cam Johnson during introductions before a game against the Cavs on Monday. (The Denver Gazette, Jerilee Bennett)<\/p>\n

Braun took ownership for not being good enough defensively against Donovan Mitchell or James Harden, as Denver lost for the fourth time in five games, but the positives are hard to deny. Nuggets coach David Adelman mentioned that Braun\u2019s defense looked like it was back to its old ways against the Pistons and Knicks.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe explosion is slowly coming back. For \u2018CB,\u2019 I think this is a great time to push himself two of these next three nights and then get a break again. Hopefully that just continues to heal for him, because it really is an injury that needs time more than rehab or whatever. The discomfort part is going to be there,\u201d the Nuggets coach said before moving onto Braun\u2019s euro-step finish in transition against the Bulls.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt wasn\u2019t one where he looked (like there) was anxiety to do it. He just took off and went. That\u2019s what he does. It\u2019s such a big part of our transition game is \u2018CB.\u2019 He really is our runner. To get that back is such a big deal. It allows us to have another layer to our offense.\u201d<\/p>\n

Prior to this season, Braun played in more than 75 games in each of his first three NBA seasons, including the 2023-24 season when he played all 82 regular-season games and 12 more in the playoffs. He played in 30 or more games in all three of his collegiate seasons at Kansas, so watching from the sideline isn\u2019t really Braun\u2019s thing.<\/p>\n

\u201cI hated it. I think that\u2019s partially why I wanted to come back so quick,\u201d Braun said.<\/p>\n

\u201cMaybe some adversity in my career, a little bit, could help me make sure I\u2019m focused and make sure I\u2019m locked in on the right things.\u00a0\u2026 It\u2019s always about winning for me.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"DenverDenver Nuggets guard Julian Strawther (3) shoots the ball as Nuggets as Nuggets head coach David Adelman cheers from the sidelines in the fourth quarter of a game against the Cavs at Ball Arena on Monday. The Nuggets lost the game 119-117. (The Gazette. Jerilee Bennett)<\/p>\n

What I\u2019m Thinking<\/p>\n

Bad Bunny isn\u2019t the only Puerto Rican putting on a show these days.<\/p>\n

\u201cI enjoyed that a lot,\u201d Nuggets guard Julian Strawther said of Bad Bunny\u2019s Super Bowl halftime show. \u201cThat was huge, huge, huge for the Puerto Ricans everywhere. That was fun to watch.\u201d<\/p>\n

The same could be said of Strawther\u2019s recent performances. The 23-year-old was born in Las Vegas but opted to represent Puerto Rico in the FIBA Under-19 World Cup in 2019, a celebration of his late mother\u2019s heritage. He matched his season high with 20 points in Monday\u2019s loss to the Cavaliers and scored double figures for a fourth consecutive game.<\/p>\n

\u201cJulian\u2019s a really good version of himself right now. He\u2019s confident. He\u2019s shooting the ball, which is allowing him to get downhill to his right hand and score. I thought he competed defensively throughout the night. That\u2019s an area he has to keep improving,\u201d the Nuggets\u2019 coach said.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you play the better part of the minutes of a game, you\u2019re going to play against star players. You\u2019re going to have to guard them with all the switching that goes on in our league. He\u2019s made strides. It\u2019s been fun to watch.\u201d<\/p>\n

Strawther is one of three active Puerto Ricans in the NBA. He\u2019s joined by Knicks guard Jose Alvarado and Pacers rookie Ethan Thompson. All three have a way to go before they have the same kind of clout as Nuggets assistant JJ Barea, another puertorriqueno who received a shoutout during the performance. Bad Bunny\u2019s song \u201cEl Apagon\u201d contains the lyrics \u201cTierre de Maelo y Tego Calderon, y de Barea, el que fue campeon primero que LeBron,\u201d which loosely translates to \u201cLand of Maelo and Tego Calderon and Barea, the one who was a champion before LeBron.\u201d \u00a0<\/p>\n

\"DenverDenver Nuggets center Nikola Joki\u0107 (15) passes the ball past Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell (45) in the 3rd quarter of a game against the Cavs at Ball Arena on Monday. (The Gazette. Jerilee Bennett)<\/p>\n

What They\u2019re Saying<\/p>\n

The Nuggets hosted their annual Special Olympics clinic on Tuesday afternoon at Ball Arena. The Special Olympians got signed one-day contracts before going through a series of drills with Nuggets players and coaches on the main court. Nikola Jokic dished out a whole lot of high fives and smiles.<\/p>\n

\u201cI like to have fun. They like to have fun,\u201d Jokic said during the event.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s just the joy they have shooting the ball, playing basketball. They really enjoy that, and it\u2019s really pleasant to see.\u201d<\/p>\n

* Those thinking about wagering on Jamal Murray\u2019s odds to win Saturday\u2019s 3-point shootout might want to reconsider.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m going to shoot with my left hand,\u201d Murray said in a tone that may or may not have been joking.<\/p>\n

The Nuggets\u2019 lone Jayhawk had the opportunity to rub in Kansas\u2019 win Monday over previously unbeaten Arizona to former Wildcats Aaron Gordon and Zeke Nnaji.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat was expected,\u201d Braun said of the so-called upset.<\/p>\n

What I\u2019m Following<\/p>\n

Celtics star Jayson Tatum was assigned to Boston\u2019s G League affiliate Monday, a move that allows him to practice against the Maine Celtics as he ramps up his return from a torn Achilles tendon.<\/p>\n

Brandon Ingram got the nod to replace Stephen Curry, who will miss the game with a minor knee injury, on one of the American All-Star teams. Michael Porter Jr. was another option, but Adam Silver went with Ingram.<\/p>\n

Oklahoma City\u2019s Nikola Topic made his G League debut Monday. The Serbian missed all of last season with a torn ligament in his knee. Topic was diagnosed with testicular cancer right before this season started.<\/p>\n


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