Christian Braun, who has missed the last five games for the Nuggets, didn't return fully healthy from his left ankle recovery earlier this month.
Christian Braun came back way too early upon his lengthy injury recovery for the Denver Nuggets.
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Although there's no setback with Braun's left ankle condition amid his sudden recent absence, head coach David Adelman revealed that the Nuggets guard actually wasn't fully healthy when he returned earlier this month.
"I watch him work out, and he’s going full speed. It’s just he can’t do everything his body should be able to do right now," Adelman said. "I feel like it’s fair to us and to the player for him to come back when he’s ready to really play basketball – not just run up and down the court. CB is tough. So, him coming back as quick as he did off an injury like that is not surprising.
"I think we have to do what’s best for him. I do think it’s a group conversation. Whenever CB communicates, I 100% understand where he’s coming from, because that guy loves to play, loves to hoop, and he loves to win. He wants to be out there."
Braun originally sustained a severe left ankle sprain in mid-November and missed 23 games after the injury.
As he returned, Braun was noticeably rusty and struggling. He only averaged a brutal 2.7 points in 21.4 percent shooting across 26.2 minutes in his last three games since he came back.
Braun went on to reveal that he tore ligaments in the ankle, which left him unable to walk for several weeks and required him to use crutches and a walking boot.
The Denver star already missed the last five games for the Nuggets, and Adelman is compelled to give Braun every moment he needs to fully recover.
As they continue performing well under the leadership of Jamal Murray, the Nuggets remain cautious to let Braun take his time to heal. That also involves Nikola Jokic (knee), Jonas Valanciunas (calf) and Cam Johnson (knee).
"We have to do the right thing for him, just like Aaron, just like when Jamal was coming back. Nikola, Valanciunas, they’ve had their good days and bad days," he said. "You’ve just got to be patient with the progress. It sucks right now.
"So much love for CB and who he is as a competitor and what he is to our team. Let’s get him back at full strength."
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