The Nuggets committed to Braun with a five-year, $125 million contract last month, making him a key piece to the franchise alongside three-time MVP Nikola Jokic and point guard Jamal Murray, especially after Michael Porter was traded to the Nets. However, Braun saw his production noticeably dip in 2025-26 due in part to an ankle sprain, limiting him to 44 regular-season games while averaging 12.0 points, 4.8 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.0 threes over 31.8 minutes per game. He connected on only 30.1 percent of his three-point attempts, a career low, and averaged just 5.5 points per game across the Nuggets' final four games against the Timberwolves in the first round of the Western Conference playoffs. Braun figures to see steady playing as a starter, though a slow start could change that projection, especially after the Nuggets signed DeMar DeRozan in the offseason.