Nuggets guard Christian Braun told Harrison Wind of DNVR Sports (Twitter links) that he’s ready to bounce back after an injury-riddled season.

“Sometimes it’s good to get punched in the mouth a little bit,” he said. “It’s good to have that little setback. Definitely motivated. Definitely excited for the summer. Just got to attack the ankle and make sure the ankle’s in a good spot. I know I’ll bounce back and I know who I am as a player so I’m really excited.”

After a breakout season in 2024/25 season in which he started 77 games, Braun appeared in just 44 games last season due to his injury issues. He’s entering the first year of his five-year, $125MM extension this season.

“I’m going to be OK. I’m always going to be OK. It’s in the past. It is what it is at this point,” he said. “This team is resilient. This team is really good. It’s a championship built roster. We’re excited for next year. We’re excited to compete. We’re excited to be healthy.”

Here’s more on the Nuggets:

• Summer League invitee TJ Bamba moved to Denver after finishing his freshman year of high school in New York City. Bamba had yet to play organized basketball before that point but wound up at Washington State, Villanova and Oregon during his college career before going undrafted last year. He played in Germany last season and had seven points, three rebounds and three assists in the Nuggets’ second Summer League game on Saturday. “It’s crazy. Years later down the line, I’m here back in Denver but with the Denver Nuggets organization. It’s a blessing, and I definitely want to take advantage of it and make the most of the opportunity,” he told Vinny Benedetto of the Denver Gazette.
• Rookie forward Trevon Brazile was held out of Saturday’s Summer League game due to a right shoulder strain, Benedetto tweets. The second-round pick signed a standard contract on Friday. Known for his athleticism, Brazile averaged 13.0 points, 7.3 rebounds, 1.5 steals and 1.6 blocks in 31.5 minutes per game across 36 appearances as a senior for Arkansas in 2025/26.
• Waiving Jonas Valanciunas before his $10MM salary for next season became fully guaranteed wasn’t a sign of ownership being cheap but rather the realization of how the big man’s shortcomings on the defensive side were too costly, Sean Keeler of Denver Post opines. Keeler points out Valanciunas’ woeful net ratings against conference heavyweights Oklahoma City, San Antonio and Minnesota.
• EuroLeague standout Alpha Diallo signed a one-year deal with Denver this weekend. Get the details here.