Jun 9, 2023; Miami, Florida, USA; Miami Heat forward Jimmy Butler (22) shoots the ball over Denver Nuggets forward Bruce Brown (11) during the second half in game four of the 2023 NBA Finals at Kaseya Center. Mandatory Credit: Jim Rassol-USA TODAY Sports

'I Could Have Stayed in Denver' – Denver Nuggets Champion Gets 100% Honest on Leaving the Team in 2023

Originally posted on Hardwood Heroics | By Jordan Samar | Last updated Oct 10, 2025 10:32 AM ET

One of the biggest moves the Denver Nuggets made this offseason was reuniting with Bruce Brown, who was an integral cog in the franchise’s championship run in 2023. After winning the Larry O’Brien trophy, the 29-year-old declined his player option and left in search of a lucrative payday.

Since then, Brown has bounced around the league, playing for the Indiana Pacers, Toronto Raptors, and New Orleans Pelicans. Looking back, the Miami product recently told reporters that he slightly regrets leaving the Mile High.

“Media day they asked me, ‘when did you think about getting to Denver?’ And I said, when I got to Toronto, and that wasn’t, like, I didn’t want to go to Toronto. I went to Indy. I finally chose where I could go, and three months in, they trade me, and I’m like, ‘where the f**k did I go?'” Brown admitted via Kayla Grey of THE SHIFT.

Mar 11, 2024; Denver, Colorado, USA; Toronto Raptors forward Bruce Brown (11) drives to the basket against Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray (27) in the second quarter at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports

“I could have stayed in Denver and been happy in Toronto. I think Toronto’s one of the best cities in the NBA easily. Like, I loved my time in Toronto. It’s insane. So don’t let people on social media twist my words because I loved my time in Toronto, but it’s just the beast of it,” he continued.

Denver Nuggets News: David Adelman names former lottery pick as surefire starter

The Denver Nuggets recently won 112-108 against the Toronto Raptors in a preseason match, and Christian Braun stood out to head coach David Adelman. The 24-year-old guard led the team in scoring with 19 points and three three-pointers on 8-for-8 shooting from the field.

Mar 14, 2025; Denver, Colorado, USA; Denver Nuggets guard Christian Braun (0) reacts with guard Russell Westbrook (4) after a play in the second quarter against the Los Angeles Lakers at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images

“Like last year, it’s just this incremental growth,” Adelman said about Braun. “I mean, he’s 8/8, 3/3 from three, and 19 points in 21 minutes. He guards the other team’s best player. He’s a bona fide NBA starter. He’s earned it. It just seems like every year, there’s this uptick in confidence.”

“I do think the craziness of the Clippers series and OKC, and getting that experience for him is so big, because you can build off of that stuff when you get in those environments, and you succeed. So, just kind of a continuation of what I saw last year,” he added.