March Madness is known for its thrilling moments, unexpected upsets, and friendly wagers among teammates. In a recent display of sportsmanship, Denver Nuggets guard Christian Braun honored a bet with his teammate Julian Strawther by wearing a Gonzaga Bulldogs jersey to a game.
The bet stemmed from the matchup between No. 4 seed Kansas, Braun's alma mater, and No. 5 seed Gonzaga, where Gonzaga emerged victorious with an 89-68 win in the round of 32 of the men's tournament. Braun, having played for Kansas and won a national championship in 2022, sported Strawther's Gonzaga jersey as a result of the wager.
Despite the playful nature of the bet, Braun's performance on the court that night was nothing short of impressive. He scored 17 points on 8-of-10 shooting, marking one of his best showings of the season. Strawther, a former Gonzaga standout, also had a solid game with 14 points.
Braun's basketball journey includes a successful college career at Kansas, where he clinched a national title before being drafted by the Nuggets in 2022. On the other hand, Strawther excelled during his time at Gonzaga, culminating in a deep run to the championship game in 2021.
Both players have transitioned to the NBA, with Braun making his mark with the Nuggets and Strawther joining the team through a trade with the Indiana Pacers. As Gonzaga gears up to face the top-seeded Purdue Boilermakers, the friendly rivalry between Braun and Strawther adds an extra layer of excitement to the upcoming game.
