Kofi Inkoom
The Denver Nuggets have chosen to exercise the third-year option on guard Christian Braun, as reported by ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
Christian Braun, who holds the record of being the fifth player to secure back-to-back NCAA and NBA championship titles, is now on the verge of embracing the role of the sixth man for the upcoming season.
The journey of Christian Braun from the realm of college basketball to the grandeur of the NBA stands as an extraordinary tale.
This 22-year-old guard, previously a standout for the Kansas Jayhawks in college, found himself drafted by the Denver Nuggets in the first round of the 2022 NBA draft.
In his rookie season in the league, Braun made appearances in 76 regular season games, contributing an average of 4.7 points within 15.5 minutes per game.
His presence was also felt in 19 playoff encounters, where he added 3.2 points and 2.1 rebounds, all within an average of 13 minutes per contest.
Being the 21st overall pick in the previous year’s draft, Braun’s third-year option for the 2024/25 season is valued at $3,089,640.
For the upcoming season, he is slated to earn $2,949,120, and it’s worth noting that the Denver Nuggets retain a fourth-year option, priced at $4,921,797, which must be exercised by the end of the next October.
The implications of Nuggets’ decision bear significant weight, as it determines Braun’s professional status.
Should the option remain unexercised, it would open the door for him to explore unrestricted free agency, while its implementation would secure his contractual commitment for an additional year.