Denver Nuggets Starter Breaks Silence on Getting Benched

The Denver Nuggets put Aaron Gordon back in the starting lineup against the Knicks
Jan 19, 2025; Orlando, Florida, USA; Denver Nuggets guard Christian Braun (0) celebrates after dunking the ball against the Orlando Magic in the third quarter at Kia Center. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images
Jan 19, 2025; Orlando, Florida, USA; Denver Nuggets guard Christian Braun (0) celebrates after dunking the ball against the Orlando Magic in the third quarter at Kia Center. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images / Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images

The Denver Nuggets had a looming problem on their hands for the past few weeks. While the team was starting to click over the last month, they were doing it without Aaron Gordon in the starting lineup and Russell Westbrook developing as a fantastic starter.

Once Gordon became healthy enough, a big question was created about putting him back in the lineup. Instead, of taking Westbrook out for Gordon and restoring the original starting lineup, the team decided to take out Christian Braun.

"Obviously I took a lot of pride in having that spot, trying to win that spot. And I'm gonna work to try to get it back. That's my job," Braun said to Bennett Durando of the Denver Post. "But whether I'm coming off the bench or starting I'm very grateful for every opportunity that I get."

So far, the Nuggets haven't looked very good as Gordon re-integrated into the lineup. The team is currently on a three-game losing streak after winning eight out of nine games. It's going to take some time for Gordon to work in the starting lineup with Westbrook, but it's clear that it's currently not going well.

Obviously, the decision was not an easy one for Nuggets coach Michael Malone, but it felt necessary. Aaron Gordon deserves a chance to start, but so does Russell Westbrook. Now, the team has to learn how to deal with the change.

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Published
Farbod Esnaashari
FARBOD ESNAASHARI

11-year veteran inside of NBA arenas. Published for ESPN, Forbes, Bleacher Report, and FanNation. Follow @Farbod_E on Twitter.