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Christian Braun has shouldered the blame for the Nuggets' first-round playoff defeat vs. the Timberwolves
The Denver Nuggets‘ 2025-26 campaign came to a screeching halt in the first round of the playoffs, as they were surprisingly eliminated in six games by the shorthanded Minnesota Timberwolves. Even though the Timberwolves were without Anthony Edwards for the majority of this series, the Nuggets couldn’t find a way to get past their Western Conference rival.
Denver struggled to get any sort of consistent production throughout this series, and that included its role players, most of whom were very quiet. Perhaps the most glaring lack of production came from Christian Braun, who was practically a ghost during this series. With the Nuggets’ season now over, Braun revealed who he believes is to blame for this crushing defeat.
Christian Braun hurt his left calf early in Nuggets-Wolves series, per sources. Between that & his ankle, he struggled to get off the ground in the playoffs.
Still, he knows the reality of new contract. “Expectations are higher, and I need to be better.”
The entire 2025-26 season was an odd one for Braun, as he battled injuries for much of the year. While he started every game he played in, Braun played in just over half of the Nuggets’ contests (44). Even when he was on the court, though, Braun’s numbers (12 PPG, 4.8 RPG, 2.7 APG, 51.9 FG%) were a step down from what he posted a year before.
Denver was hoping Braun would be able to get going in the playoffs, but he was practically missing in action for the majority of this series (8.3 PPG, 3.5 RPG, 1.7 APG, 41.7 FG%). With Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray getting extra attention from Minnesota’s defense, Braun’s disappearing act was a blow that the team could not overcome.
Reports indicate that Braun was nowhere near full health in this series, as a bothersome ankle injury appears to have had a major impact on his performance. Still, Braun isn’t in the business of making excuses, and he even went as far as to pin the blame on himself for the Nuggets’ first-round defeat vs. the Timberwolves.
“I just think I’m the leader of this team,” Braun said, per Bennett Durando of The Denver Post. “I’m the vocal leader of this team. And when we don’t play well as a whole, you can blame whatever you want … You can blame anything. But I didn’t play well enough as an individual, and I didn’t have this team ready enough to play in a tough series. So we’ll be better. I’ll be better. I’m looking forward to next year, when we can respond.”
GettySAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA – OCTOBER 23: Christian Braun #0 of the Denver Nuggets in action against the Golden State Warriors at Chase Center on October 23, 2025 in San Francisco, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
Before the season, the Nuggets signed Braun to a five-year, $125 million contract extension, and it seemed like a shrewd piece of business. With Braun taking a step back in terms of his production, though, that has left Denver’s front office in a tough spot. The team has a plethora of wing depth, and it feels like it needs to swing a couple of trades in order to balance out its roster.
Could Braun find himself on the trade block this offseason? It’s definitely possible, as rumors seem to indicate the team would rather trade him than a guy like Aaron Gordon. Anything can happen in the NBA, though, and Braun is only one season removed from scoring 15.4 points per game. If the right offer comes across the table for the Nuggets, though, they could very well ship Braun off to another team before the 2026-27 campaign.
Owen Crisafulli Owen Crisafulli is an Email Newsletter Editor & Breaking News Writer at Heavy Sports. His work has also appeared on ClutchPoints, Sports Illustrated, The Sporting News, Athlon Sports, NESN Basketball Network, and FanSided, where he shared his insights on a variety of sports topics primarily surrounding the NFL, NBA, and MLB. More about Owen Crisafulli
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