DENVER – Kentavious Caldwell-Pope was in many ways the perfect player to complement LeBron James. He is a good defender who is quick around the perimeter and has a good shooting quality that does not always need the ball in his hands to be effective. Back in 2020, he was the third leading playoff scorer for the Los Angeles Lakers.
Caldwell Pope’s ring gave him instant credibility when he was traded to Denver in July. The Nuggets wasted no time in extending it, agreeing to a contract later that month, and has been physically fit ever since.
“A great player,” Nikola Jokic said simply when asked about Caldwell Pope. “Player of the Tournament.”
“A championship contender of that pedigree,” added Lakers coach Darvin Hamm, who in Los Angeles hasn’t stepped in with Caldwell Pope but is preparing to face him in the Western Conference Finals.
The Lakers have transferred Caldwell Pope after the 2020-21 season and traded him to the Washington Wizards in a deal for Russell Westbrook. Since then, L.A. has essentially undoed the move, moving Westbrook at this year’s deadline and working to surround James and Anthony Davis with high-quality roles: players like Caldwell Pope, who have shot 46.2 percent from the 3-point range this season.
Jokic Caldwell described Pope as someone who always knows where he’s supposed to be and what he’s supposed to be doing. It helped make him a valuable member of the tournament. He’s averaged over 31 minutes of playing time this season with the Nuggets, the most he’s played since 2017-18, the year before James arrived in Los Angeles.
“His energy is second to none; he plays at a high level in every game,” said James. “He is very experienced. We know what we’re up against when it comes down to it.”
James also praised the 30-year-old’s consistent availability. Over the past 10 seasons, no one has played more regular season games than Caldwell Pope, who has good 759.
“He’s always in uniform, and that sets him apart from a lot of the guys in our league,” said James.
Caldwell-Pope has started all 11 of the Nuggets’ games these playoffs and has shown he can punish teams that leave him open. He put up 21 points in Denver’s Game 6 victory over Phoenix, 17 of them in the first quarter. He also came up with a massive fourth quarter in game two, helping the Nuggets overcome cold nights from Jamal Murray (10 points) and Michael Porter Jr. (five points). Denver entered the final frame trailing Phoenix, but a trio of Caldwell-Pope three-pointers in the period helped the Nuggets pull away, sending the ballpark into a frenzy.
During the Phoenix Series, Caldwell Pope often faced the daunting task of guarding Suns star Devin Booker, who averaged 36.3 points in the first four games of the series but cooled to 20 points per game in the last two games, both Nuggets wins. Against the Lakers, Caldwell Pope is likely to face mainly against Angelo Russell or Austin Reeves.
“You definitely have to match his speed and be aware of him: he runs out for quick kicks, runs in for three corners,” Hamm said. “His energy is really contagious with their group.”
Caldwell Pope, plus season-signing Bruce Brown, and Christian Brown are all in Denver’s rotation, bringing the team a level of depth it has been lacking in recent years. Hamm told reporters that Denver has “There are a lot of people you have to hold accountable to in different ways.” Pair that with two-time MVP in Jokić and minor league star in Murray, and you’ve got yourself a serious offensive team.
Getting Caldwell Pope was a huge boost for the Nuggets, Malone said, calling him one of the best two-way players in the league. The goalkeeper also brings championship experience to a team seeking their first-ever title. He’s the only Denver player with a ring, and though he’s excited to face his former club, he’s not content with just a final berth in the Western Conference.
“We’ve got eight more games (to win), and we want to get those eight games,” Caldwell-Pope said after the second round. “Then we celebrate.”
(Top photo by Kentavious Caldwell-Pope: Christian Petersen/Getty Images)