Nuggets were drawn to KU’s Christian Braun in part because of his ‘big cojones’
Christian Braun is going from Blue Valley Northwest to Kansas to the NBA.
Braun was chosen by the Denver Nuggets with the 21st overall pick in Thursday’s NBA Draft.
Nuggets vice president of scouting Jim Clibanoff was thrilled to add Braun to Denver’s roster.
In an interview with Katy Winge and Chris Dempsey of Altitude Now, Clibanoff gushed about Braun’s talent, pedigree and ... cojones.
“NBA-ready guy. Winner. Played 40 minutes in the national championship game,” Clibanoff said. “Checks many, many boxes. Great body, plays hard, big cojones. We search for guys like this.
“We wanted to get bigger in the backcourt. He can play the two-spot, he can play the three-spot, he can really join our rotation now. It’s not one of these wait-and-see projects. So, plug-and-play, winner, good dude. Really good personality.”
Clibanoff said Braun’s time with the Jayhawks will serve him well in the NBA.
“Playing for (KU coach) Bill Self, he knows how to fit in, that’s the real important part,” Clibanoff said. “His skill level has increased year after year, he’s a good shooter now, we think he has the potential to be a really good shooter. And he defends, too.”
Clibanoff added that Braun’s play at the NBA Combine impressed the Nuggets. And Denver’s director of player personnel, Scott Howard, knows Self well.
“We felt we got the really good intel,” Clibanoff. “High culture guy, gonna fit in really well. Fans are really gonna like him because he’s got the blue-collar aspect with some white-collar elements.”
Here is the interview.
