​Denver, Colorado – October 25, 2025: Christian Braun, wearing number 0 for the Denver Nuggets, drives to the basket against the Phoenix Suns in the third quarter at Ball Arena. A Getty Images caption notes that by downloading or using the photo, you consent to the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images) Separately in Vancouver, Canada, on October 6, 2025, Braun is seen driving to the hoop after getting past Brandon Ingram of the Toronto Raptors during the first half of a preseason game at Rogers Arena. The accompanying note reiterates that by downloading or using this photograph, the user consents to the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Rich Lam/Getty)
In a discussion about the NBA’s eight worst contracts, Denver’s obvious candidate was highlighted. Bleacher Report’s Dan Favale listed Christian Braun among the league’s most overpaid players. The article appears amid coverage of the Phoenix Suns versus the Denver Nuggets matchup in Denver. The Nuggets had signed Braun to a five-year contract in the 2025 offseason, with a total value around $125.5 million.
Favale’s ranking placed Braun at No. 8, criticizing the deal as excessive for a player who often becomes an offensive non-factor. The pundit argued that Braun’s shooting outside the arc dropped while his overall volume did not increase accordingly. He noted that Braun’s efficiency inside the arc deteriorated when not paired with Nikola Jokic, going from 67.7 percent on two-pointers when Jokic facilitated the offense to just 34.8 percent on inside attempts without Jokic. This drop, reported as 32.9 percentage points, was the largest on the Nuggets’ roster and helped explain why more than 87 percent of Braun’s minutes occurred alongside Jokic.
During the 2025-2026 season, Braun played 44 games for Denver, starting all 44 and averaging 31.8 minutes per game. He shot 51.9 percent from the field, but his three-point percentage sat at 30.1 percent. He finished the season with averages of 12.0 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 2.7 assists per game. In the playoffs, his production declined to 8.3 points and 1.7 assists per game, marking a clear downturn from the season that helped secure the lucrative contract.
The coverage is accompanied by the usual photographic notes about Getty Images’ licensing terms, including the Vancouver shoot from October 6 and the Denver game from October 25 in 2025.