Winning the men’s NCAA Tournament is one of the most difficult challenges in any amateur sport. Winning an NBA title is even harder. Winning both in back-to-back years? It almost never happens.
Before Monday night’s title clinching-victory by the Denver Nuggets, only four players had ever accomplished the legendary feat. Now there’s a fifth with rookie Christian Braun going from lifting the NCAA trophy with Kansas in 2022 to the Larry O’Brien trophy with Denver in 2023.
The other four names include some of the most legendary athletes to ever pick up a basketball: Magic Johnson, Bill Russell, Henry Bibby and Billy Thompson,
How does it feel to win the NCAA and NBA Championship in back-to-back years?
Nuggets rookie Christian Braun with much to celebrate 🏆 pic.twitter.com/7cfRhe3N1F
— NBA (@NBA) June 13, 2023
Braun wasn’t some scrub riding the bench, either. He mattered. Both over the course of the season and throughout the playoffs. Nikola Jokic credited him with securing the Nuggets’ Game 3 win in the Finals after going off 15 points on 7-of-8 shooting.
Head coach Mike Malone trusted him to guard Kevin Durant, LeBron James and Jimmy Butler at various times during the playoffs.
christian braun going right at and scoring over jimmy butler. this is, um, not easy. pic.twitter.com/QdHIpDuaHE
— Dan Favale (@danfavale) June 8, 2023
Where Braun’s career goes from here is still anyone’s guess, but it’s hard to say the future doesn’t look extremely bright for the talented wing. He’s already got the resume to prove it.
