KCP’s winning pedigree was missing link in Nuggets’ drive
Denver — The Denver Nuggets had all the ingredients for an NBA Finals run this season — Nikola Jokic's allaround greatness, Jamal Murray's sweet ball handling, Michael Porter Jr.'s board crashing and arc accuracy, Aaron Gordon's above-the-rim brilliance.
The only thing missing was biggame experience.
Enter Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, who won a title with the Los Angeles Lakers inside the NBA bubble in 2020.
The Nuggets acquired the sharp-shooting swingman along with veteran guard Ish Smith from the Washington Wizards last July in exchange for Monte Morris and Will Barton.
KCP, the quiet-until-he-needs-tobe player with a lethal outside shot, has been the calming presence on this squad that has sent Karl-Anthony Towns, Anthony Edwards, Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, Anthony Davis and LeBron James on early vacations and has designs on adding either Jimmy Butler or Jayson Tatum to that mix when the NBA Finals finally get here June 1.
"He's just the ultimate leader, ultimate professional, comes in every day and works extremely hard, holds everyone accountable," said fellow 2022-23 addition Bruce Brown Jr. "But he is the only one on this team who has won a championship. He knows what it takes and what we need to do. So, we gotta listen to that guy."
Teammates and coaches say KCP isn't so much in your face as he's in your ear, dispensing advice, tips, guidance, encouragement and caution along the way as the Nuggets navigate a championship road they've never been down.
"I do it vocally, just talking, bringing that championship mentality that I have to my team now," Caldwell-Pope said, "and just tell them in moments like if they go on a run, it's not the end of the day. Let's just get back to doing what we do. Like I say, it's all about being patient, being ready and defending."
The Nuggets' four-game sweep of the Lakers secured the franchise's first Western Conference title and sent the Nuggets to their first NBA Finals appearance in their history and to their first championship series since they lost to Julius Erving and the New York Nets 4-2 in the ABA's last season in 1976.
Those two teams, along with the Indiana Pacers and San Antonio Spurs, joined the NBA in 1976-77 when the ABA disbanded. All the others reached the NBA Finals long before the Nuggets, who are appearing in their first league championship in their 47-year history.
They might not have made it without KCP, whose on-the-court contributions are what Nuggets superstar Jokic appreciates the most.
Caldwell-Pope was an integral part of the Lakers' championship run in 2020, averaging 10.7 points and starting in all of LA's 21 playoff games. He helped the Lakers beat the Nuggets in five games for the Western Conference title in the bubble.
What he's brought the Nuggets isn't just that championship pedigree but performance, Jokic said Saturday.
"Yes, he won a championship, but the best thing about KCP is he knows exactly what to do and where to be," Jokic said. "And he's doing that in the first game, the 70th game, the playoff game, Finals game, whatever game, he always does what he's supposed to do and I think that's the best way to describe him."