Former Kansas forward Parker Braun lands summer league invite from Denver Nuggets
Former Kansas Jayhawks men’s basketball forward Parker Braun will play for the Nuggets during the upcoming NBA 2K25 summer league, the Denver pro hoops franchise announced on Sunday. Parker, the older brother of former KU star and current Denver Nuggets player Christian Braun, will be among 14 players selected to represent the Nuggets in Las Vegas for the 2k25 summer league. Parker Braun averaged 2.2 points and 1.6 rebounds while playing 7.7 minutes per game in his sixth and final collegiate season at Kansas. Before playing his last season at KU, he played at
Missouri and Santa Clara. His best collegiate season was 2022-23 for Santa Clara, when he averaged 7.7 points and 5.8 rebounds per game. Recently, he spoke to The Star’s Matt Guzman about his future. “If we see something that we like, (or) something comes to us that … we think will be a good opportunity, then we’ll take it,” Braun said. “And if not, then I think we’re in a good spot. (I’m) trying to stay in shape, and just kind of take what’s thrown at us one at a time.” Now, Parker Braun will pursue his NBA dreams. His first chance to showcase his talents will come against the Los Angeles Clippers’ summer league team on June 12.
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Parker Braun added to Nuggets’ roster for NBA Summer League
Another member of the Braun family will suit up for the Denver Nuggets — at least for a stint during the summer.
Former Kansas men’s basketball standout Christian Braun entered the NBA as a first-round pick in 2022, won a national championship with the Nuggets as a rookie and upped his productivity in an even more productive sophomore season.
Now, his older brother Parker Braun, who spent six seasons at the collegiate level across Missouri, Santa Clara and then KU, will join Denver for the Summer League, the team announced Sunday.
The Nuggets do not play in the earlier California or Salt Lake City summer competitions, but will play their first preseason game in the Las Vegas Summer League against the Los Angeles Clippers on Friday. The game is at 9 p.m. Central Time and will be televised on NBA TV. Denver will then play at least four additional games by the end of the competition.
A 6-foot-10, 235-pound forward, Braun played a small role as Hunter Dickinson’s backup at the center position during Braun’s sixth-year senior season at KU, appearing in all 34 games for an average of 7.4 minutes with 2.2 points and 1.6 rebounds per game.
Many of Braun’s most memorable moments occurred when he finished off alley-oops from longtime friend and point guard Dajuan Harris Jr.; he also had double-digit scoring performances in the Jayhawks’ first two games of the season and later hit a key 3-pointer, just his third overall on the year, to help KU fend off Houston at Allen Fieldhouse on Feb. 3. He was slowed somewhat near the end of the year by an ankle injury suffered at Baylor on March 2.
Braun, a Burlington native, had his best season in 2022-23, when he averaged 7.7 points and 5.8 rebounds in his second year as a starter for Santa Clara. Having faced Gonzaga repeatedly as a league foe in the West Coast Conference and failed to come away with a win, Braun was again thwarted when the Jayhawks lost to the Bulldogs in the NCAA Tournament in what turned out to be the final game of his collegiate career.
Now, he will have a chance to start his professional career strong by taking on tough competition in the NBA’s annual preseason extravaganza.
He is one of six former Jayhawks announced as taking part in the event thus far, as of Sunday evening.
Marcus Garrett is currently with the Charlotte Hornets in the California Classic Summer League, after spending 2023-24 with their NBA G League affiliate, the Greensboro Swarm. Ochai Agbaji and Gradey Dick will both take part for the Toronto Raptors, Jalen Wilson will be back in Las Vegas with the Brooklyn Nets and newly drafted Johnny Furphy will be on the Indiana Pacers’ roster.
Nine teams have yet to announce their Summer League rosters (including the New York Knicks, who drafted Kevin McCullar Jr.).
Christian Braun did not play in the Summer League last year after carving out a role as a rookie. This year, entering his third season, he is again not on the Summer League squad, and may even be able to eke out a starting spot during the regular season now that the Nuggets no longer have Kentavious Caldwell-Pope.