December 19th 2024.
Last week, Christian Braun found himself in an unfortunate predicament. Despite his best efforts to maintain his impressive streak, he knew deep down that it was only a matter of time before it came to an end. And on Monday night in Sacramento, his fears were realized when he was sidelined with a strained lower back, just one hour before the game was set to begin. This marked the end of his remarkable run of 122 consecutive games played, dating all the way back to the 2023 playoffs.
At just 23 years old, Braun had quickly become a key player in the Nuggets' lineup, making his absence all the more noticeable. It was hard to believe that only two years into his career, he had already become such a reliable and consistent presence on the court. In fact, he had made it his goal to never miss a game if possible. As he stated after a practice at Ball Arena just a few days before his injury, "My goal is to be out there every game. I think everybody knows that. I don't want to jinx it. I haven't missed a game in a long time, even back in college. And sometimes you have bumps and bruises, and maybe you don't feel like playing, but you've gotta be ready to go when it's game time. So that's my biggest goal: to be out there every single night and be available for my team, my fans, my family, and everyone who has believed in me."
However, Braun's back injury was not the first time he had been at risk of missing a game. Just two weekends ago, he was listed as questionable to play against Washington due to a quad injury. Despite this, coach Michael Malone had full confidence in Braun's ability to play through the pain. "That guy is just one big muscle," he joked before the game.
Braun understood that injuries were just a part of being a starter in the NBA, especially as he took on more minutes on the court. In his second season, he had played through various injuries, and now in his third, he was averaging 14.5 more minutes per game. To cope with the physical toll, he had implemented a strict recovery plan, including daily ice baths and using Normatec boots. He also made a conscious effort to prioritize rest and sleep. In fact, he even looked to veteran player Russell Westbrook for advice on how to maintain his energy and stamina throughout the season.
Despite his efforts, Braun has still had to miss a total of eight games in his professional career, including playoffs. However, compared to other players, this number is quite low. In the past three seasons, he has appeared in 96.4% of the Nuggets' games, a testament to his durability and dedication to his team.
But even with his impressive track record, Braun couldn't help but be self-critical when it came to his body maintenance. He knew that in order to continue playing at a high level, he needed to make improvements in this area. "I need to be better with my recovery," he admitted. "And that's a learning process. I need to find a new routine, a new way to play 35 minutes a night and still improve as an individual, win games, and play winning basketball. It's not easy, but I'm determined to keep learning and improving."
Braun acknowledged that there would be times when his body would feel great and other times when it wouldn't cooperate as well. But he refused to use that as an excuse for missing games. He knew that as a key player, he had to be ready to play 35 or even 40 minutes each night. And he was willing to do whatever it takes to ensure that he is always available for his team. As he put it, "That's no excuse. I've gotta be out there, giving my all for 35 or 40 minutes, no matter what."
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