Christian Braun #0 of the Denver Nuggets
Christian Braun is no stranger to winning. He achieved back-to-back championship glory in two different leagues, first with the Kansas Jayhawks in 2022 and then with the Denver Nuggets in 2023. Braun was not just a bystander in these victories; he played a pivotal role for both teams. The 6’6” wing proved his value at Kansas as a Junior and transitioned into a key contributor for the Nuggets as a rookie, further solidifying his reputation as a player who thrives in big moments.
At Kansas, Braun donned the #2 jersey throughout his three years in Lawrence. But when he made his way to Denver, that number wasn’t an option. Nuggets legend and Hall of Famer Alex English had retired #2 after an illustrious 11-season career with the franchise. Braun, instead, reverted to the #0 he wore in high school, a number that has grown even more sentimental since he wore it during the Nuggets’ championship run.
In Game 3 of the 2023 NBA Finals against the Miami Heat, Braun exploded for 15 points, shooting 7-of-8 from the field while grabbing four rebounds and making a crucial steal that led to a powerful dunk. His performance helped tilt the momentum in Denver’s favor, with the rookie delivering a passionate “Rock Chalk” yell to the crowd. That moment cemented his significance to the Nuggets’ title run and his emotional connection to the number.
The Westbrook Conundrum
Things were calm on the number front for Braun until rumors began swirling about Russell Westbrook joining the Nuggets. Westbrook, a 2017 NBA MVP and future Hall of Famer, has worn #0 throughout his professional career, a number he adopted after transitioning from #4 in high school. However, with #0 firmly belonging to Braun and #4 already taken by Hunter Tyson, the question arose: would Westbrook request Braun to relinquish his number?
According to recent reports, Westbrook did indeed inquire about taking over Braun’s #0. However, the former Jayhawk refused to give up the number, leaving the NBA legend without his preferred jersey. Tyson, on the other hand, had no issue surrendering his #4 jersey to Westbrook and agreed to switch to #5.
“More uniform news: Hunter Tyson will wear #5 this season after giving #4 to Russell Westbrook. There was an inquiry by Westbrook into wearing #0, I’m told, but Christian Braun didn’t budge. Tyson gave Westbrook #4 free of charge,” tweeted Nuggets reporter Harrison Wind on August 26, 2024.
This development has sparked some discussion among fans. While some believe Braun should have yielded to Westbrook, others understand why he chose to hold onto a number tied to both his high school days and an NBA championship.
https://twitter.com/HarrisonWind/status/1828074316459872729?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1828074316459872729%7Ctwgr%5E5a4cd72a97439997fb1a4ac5cff76fd967a8cd07%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fthroughthephog.com%2Fposts%2Fkansas-basketball-christian-braun-denver-nuggets-russell-westbrook-jayhawks-01j59y69x44t
Looking Ahead to 2024-25
Now, Braun turns his attention to the 2024-25 season. Following the departure of Kentavious Caldwell-Pope in the offseason, Braun is widely expected to start at shooting guard for the Nuggets. However, Westbrook’s arrival complicates things. Though Braun seems poised for a starting role, Westbrook’s presence could lead to fierce competition for backcourt minutes. The preseason will provide an opportunity to see how the dynamic between the two develops—both on the court and off, as the jersey number dispute adds a layer of intrigue to their relationship.
With training camp just weeks away, all eyes will be on Denver to see how this latest storyline unfolds. One thing is for sure: Christian Braun won’t back down from any challenge—whether it’s defending his number or carving out a bigger role for himself in the Nuggets’ quest for back-to-back titles.
