Christian Braun

Christian Nicholas Braun (born April 17, 2001) is an American professional basketball player for the Denver Nuggets of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball at the University of Kansas and was a starter on the team that won the 2022 NCAA championship. In 2023, he contributed to the Nuggets winning their first NBA title, becoming the fifth player in basketball history to win NCAA and NBA titles in back-to-back seasons.

High school career
Braun played basketball for Blue Valley Northwest High School in Overland Park, Kansas. As a senior, he averaged 27.8 points, 9.3 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game, leading his team to a third straight Class 6A state title. He was named Mr. Kansas Basketball and Kansas Gatorade Player of the Year. He committed to playing college basketball for Kansas over offers from Kansas State, Illinois and Missouri, among others.

On April 4, 2022, the school declared that day Christian Braun Day.

College career
As a freshman at Kansas, Braun averaged 5.3 points and 2.9 rebounds per game, earning Big 12 All-Freshman Team honors. On November 27, 2020, he recorded a career-high 30 points, nine rebounds and four steals in a 94–72 win over Saint Joseph's. As a sophomore, Braun averaged 9.7 points and 5.2 rebounds per game. He was named to the Second Team All-Big 12 as a junior. In the Final Four against Villanova, he became the 65th player to reach 1,000 points for Kansas, finishing that game with 10 points and helping the Jayhawks reach the championship. In the championship game against the North Carolina Tar Heels, he had 12 points and 12 rebounds for his fifth double-double of the season, which helped Kansas rally from a 40–25 halftime deficit. In the final possession of that game, he defended Caleb Love's three-point attempt, sealing the win and giving him his first NCAA title. On April 24, 2022, Braun declared for the 2022 NBA draft, while maintaining his college eligibility. He confirmed he would remain in the NBA draft and forego his senior season on May 25, 2022.

Denver Nuggets (2022–present)
Braun was picked by the Denver Nuggets with the 21st overall pick in the 2022 NBA draft. On July 3, 2022, he signed his rookie scale contract with the Nuggets. Braun won his first championship with the Nuggets after they defeated the Miami Heat in the 2023 NBA Finals. He became the fifth player in NBA history to win a NCAA and NBA championship in back-to-back seasons, alongside Bill Russell, Henry Bibby, Magic Johnson and Billy Thompson.

Personal life
Braun has two brothers, one older and one younger. His uncle played college basketball at Missouri. His older brother, Parker, plays at Kansas. Braun's father Donny was a former walk-on at Kansas, while his mother, along with her twin sister, also played at Missouri. His mother's family was inducted into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame.

Braun has launched a fashion line, The CB2 Collection.