Christian Braun

Seeing the first rematch of last season’s Western Conference Semifinals slipping through its palms, the Minnesota Timberwolves, reasonably, had reason to worry, having fallen on the wrong end of a late-game 9-0 run. As fate would have it, it was nothing compared to the not-soon-to-be-forgotten run that Christian Braun was about to speed into during a drive down the middle of the floor. Benefitting from an always-intriguing trio of circumstances including selfless ball movement, a high-IQ cut to the rim, and a head-to-head against a rim protector unafraid to contest any shot nearby, Braun prepares for liftoff from just outside the restricted area. Ascending with no plans of returning Earth anytime soon, Braun presents four-time Defensive Player of the Year Rudy Gobert with the rare type of play he couldn’t quite defend, overtaking him for a bench-igniting poster jam. The Timberwolves would ultimately rally for a comeback of their own, dealing Denver a three-point loss on November 1, 2024. Braun, even so, proved spectacular, turning in a team-high +13 plus-minus alongside 14 points, seven rebounds, two assists, and one 3-pointer.