November 1st 2024.
In the city of Minneapolis, Christian Braun knows that in order to be the best, he can't back down from his opponent, Ant. Their upcoming matchup calls for embracing and even enjoying Ant's love for trash talk. It's a challenge that requires Braun to defend on his own, where any mistakes are magnified. But it's also a chance for him to showcase his intensity and boldness.
Despite not having the same level of fame and recognition as Anthony Edwards, Braun is confident that his defense can match Edwards' offense. In fact, he boldly stated in an interview with The Denver Post that in the 2024 playoffs, people will see what he is truly capable of. The Nuggets are aware that they will face the Timberwolves frequently, not just in their upcoming game, but in future divisional battles. And Braun is ready for the challenge, as he has been given the responsibility to guard Edwards and potentially become his long-term defensive counterpart.
Braun acknowledges that he and Edwards have a competitive relationship. They have faced each other many times before and have had their fair share of successes and failures. But Braun enjoys playing against Edwards and admires his competitiveness. He considers him one of the most exciting players to go up against in the league. However, he wants to make it clear that he doesn't like the Timberwolves as a team. In fact, after their Game 7 loss to them, he declared that Denver and Minnesota are now rivals. And he still stands by that statement, even after the Timberwolves made significant changes to their roster this preseason.
Edwards, who was the first overall pick in the 2020 draft, is known for his frequent isolation plays and high volume of three-point attempts. Braun, on the other hand, was the 21st pick in the 2022 draft. But their paths have crossed before, as they were both teammates in high school and even roommates in Denver. Braun's friend and former teammate, Mike Peake, also played with Edwards in college. So, Braun has had a few conversations with Edwards in the past.
Although Braun was not the primary defender on Edwards last season, he did hold him to a 4-for-12 shooting performance during their seven-game series, according to the league's matchup data. This gave the Nuggets confidence in Braun's potential as a successor to Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, who left the team in free agency. In a strange way, their series loss to the Timberwolves ended up being a motivating factor for Braun.
During the offseason, Braun watched parts of the Game 7 video to try and understand how they let their lead slip away. As a young starter, he knows that the Nuggets will have to face the Timberwolves and Edwards for years to come. And although it's painful to watch, he believes it will ultimately make them stronger as a team.
Braun knows that the Nuggets and the Timberwolves will be competing for the top spot in the division for a while. But he remains optimistic and hopes that they will come out on top more often than not. He understands that they will have their fair share of wins and losses against the Timberwolves, but he hopes that the Nuggets will ultimately prevail. And as a fan of the team, he knows that the Nuggets Insider is the best way to stay updated on all things Nuggets.
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