Christian Braun may be a rookie, but he sure doesn’t play like one. Accustomed to the brightest lights as a national champion in college, the Denver Nuggets guard fit right in as his top-seeded squad attempts to win its first championship in franchise history. The 21st pick in the 2022 NBA Draft was fearless when he picked off a Kevin Durant pass and raced the other way in transition before landing an emphatic slam with the 13-time All-Star in pursuit. Braun has made Durant and Devin Booker earn their points with tenacious coverage on the defensive end, and his five points, two rebounds and one steal helped the Nuggets take a crucial 3-2 series lead in the Western Conference semifinals with a 118-102 Game 5 win on May 9, 2023. · May 10, 2023