Christian Braun, an American professional basketball player for the Denver Nuggets, grew up in an athletic household. His family has a basketball background.
He credits his athletic accomplishments to his parents, Lisa Sandbothe and Donny Braun.
Highlights
- Christian Braun’s father played one season of basketball at Kansas, and his mother stood out on the Missouri women’s basketball team.
- Their house has been divided into two fan clubs dating back to Christian’s birth.
- Christian committed to the Kansas Jayhawks while his brother was then a freshman forward at Missouri.
Christian Nicolas Braun began playing basketball for Blue Valley Northwest High School and led his team to a third straight Class 6A state title.
He was named Kansas Gatorade Player of the Year and Mr. Kansas Basketball. His school declared Christian Braun Day on April 4, 2022.
Despite offers from Kansas State, Missouri, and Illinois, he committed to playing college basketball for Kansas. As a junior, he was named to the Second Team All-Big 12.
Christian was a starter on the team that won the 2022 NCAA championship against the North Carolina Tar Heels. Afterward, he declared for the 2022 NBA draft, forgoing his senior season.
The Denver Nuggets selected him with the 21st overall pick in the 2022 NBA draft, and he won his first championship against the Miami Heat in the 2023 NBA Finals.
Christian Braun’s Parents Played Basketball In College
Christian Braun, the son of Lisa Sandbothe and Donny Braun, was born on April 17, 2001, in Burlington, Kansas. His parents raised him alongside his two siblings, Parker and Landon.
Christian didn’t achieve his success alone. Behind his impressive basketball career lies a strong support system from his parents.
Christian Braun and his parents rocking KU gear during his signing ceremony.
— Matt Scott (@KUTheShiver) November 15, 2018
His mother, who played bball at Mizzou, immediately felt a rush of awesome when putting KU gear on. #kubball @Ballin25Braun pic.twitter.com/sgBneU0tMD
Donny Braun was a former St. Louis University basketball player and a Kansas walk-on.
He wished to play for Kansas but was unable to do so. Thus, he felt proud when his son played for the Kansas Jayhawks basketball team.
On the other hand, Lisa Sandbothe has been involved in basketball since her youth. She was honored twice with an All-Big Eight Conference selection at the University of Missouri.
Her family was inducted into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame in 2019.
I’m the baby of seven and my mom had seven kids in nine years, so we are extremely tight. And we’ve always supported one another, we’ve always been each other’s biggest fans. And, and I do the same for their children, they do the same for mine.
Lisa Sandbothe
Donny and Lisa instilled in Christian the values of hard work, discipline, and perseverance that have shaped him into the player he is today. They didn’t just encourage him but actively coached and mentored him.
Christian has often credited his parents for his competitive mindset, and they were deeply involved in his journey.
Moreover, Lisa has always been critical of her son’s performance and sometimes criticizes him constructively so that he continues to get better at the game.
She expressed her satisfaction with Christian’s draft selection and is confident that her son would continue to improve while playing for the Nuggets.
Christian Braun’s Family House Is Divided Into Two
The Braun household was a battleground of college basketball allegiances. The holiday decorations told a story of rivalry, with two Christmas trees, one for the kids and another for the whole family.
On the kids’ tree, ornaments were split between Kansas and Missouri, reflecting the family’s divided loyalties. But one night, Christian decided to take things into his own hands.
At just 7, Christian snuck into the living room while his parents slept and removed every Missouri ornament from the tree.
He removed the Mizzou ornaments, shattered them into pieces, and hid them under the tree skirt. Lisa was stunned to find half the ornaments missing in the morning.
Afterward, Christian admitted he didn’t want Missouri ornaments on his tree.
Furthermore, the Brauns’ divided house dates back to Christian’s birth. His father played one basketball season at Kansas, while his mother stood out on the Missouri women’s basketball team.
Their marriage blended two fierce rivals under one roof, setting the stage for a lifetime of friendly but passionate debates.
Similarly, the rivalry took on new meaning. Christian played junior guard and committed to the Kansas Jayhawks, while his older brother, Parker, was then a freshman forward at Missouri.
Though Parker has since transferred to Santa Clara, the Kansas-Missouri rivalry remains a hot topic in the Braun household.
Additional Information
- Christian Braun became the fifth player in NBA history to win an NCAA and NBA championship in back-to-back seasons.
- He has launched his fashion line, The CB2 Collection.
- He has been in a relationship with Gia Duddy.
