KCP’s Championship Experience: Vital to Denver Nuggets’ NBA Finals Run

The reason why the Denver Nuggets can reach the NBA Finals this season is due to Nikola Jokic’s comprehensive performance, Jamal Murray’s excellent ball-handling skills, Michael Porter Jr.’s explosive rebounds and accurate three-pointers, Aaron Gordon’s flying and escaping talent.

If you insist on picking a shortcoming from these few people, it is the lack of a player with championship experience. And that’s where Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, or KCP for short, comes in, having won the 2020 NBA Bubble with the Los Angeles Lakers.

Last July, the Nuggets acquired KCP, an offensive guard, and veteran guard Ish Smith from the Washington Wizards in a trade.

KCP has no special performance most of the time, but he can always jump out at critical moments. He has lethal perimeter firepower and has been a stabilizing force for this team. He played an important role in the team to eliminate Karl-Anthony Towns, Anthony Edwards, Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, Anthony Davis and LeBron James, and faced his old rival, the Miami Heat, in the championship game.

“He’s a leader and a very professional player. He tries to lead by example and demands of everyone. He’s also the only guy on this team who has ever won a championship. He knows what needs to be done and will tell What should we do. We all listen to him,” said 2022-23 teammate Bruce Brown Jr.

Teammates and coaches say Caldwell-Pope wasn’t the type to push you, but more to whisper advice, tips, coaching, encouragement and warnings.

“I will bring my experience of winning championships to my team through verbal expression and dialogue. I will choose to tell them in some special moments. Even if the opponent plays a wave of offense, it does not mean that we will lose the game. Just adjust Get the rhythm we’re good at, and we’ll be able to come back and win. As I said, it’s all about patience, preparation and defense,” Caldwell-Pope said.

They probably wouldn’t have gotten to this point without KCP’s contributions, and that’s what Nuggets superstar Jokic appreciates the most.

KCP played a major role in the Lakers’ championship run in 2020, averaging 10.7 points in 21 playoff games, all starts. He helped the Lakers beat the Nuggets in five games to win the Western Conference title.

Jokic said that KCP brought not only championship experience to the Nuggets, but also outstanding performance. “Yes, he won a championship, but the best thing about him is he knows exactly what to do and where to stand. Whether it’s the first game, the 70th game, the playoffs, the finals, or Any game, he always does what he’s supposed to do, and I think that’s the best way to describe him,” Jokic said.

Whether giving advice or quietly going about his business, Caldwell-Pope has been a vital part of the longest playoff run in Nuggets history. He averaged 11.7 points per game, up from 10.8 this season, and his rebounding average went from 2.7 to 3.2, while reducing his turnovers from 1.1 to 0.7.

He also showed some solid performances on the defensive end in the playoffs.

“I feel like I’m always up against tough opponents, but I take pride in my defense. I know I can stop them,” Caldwell-Pope said. Because of that, he said before the Nuggets start the Finals after a week off for the Nuggets that defense will be what lifts the O’Brien trophy.

In Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals, Murray stalked Lakers star LeBron James for a layup and Gordan blocked LeBron’s shot, securing the Nuggets’ first playoff series sweep in franchise history.

In one of the second-round games against the Phoenix Suns, which the Nuggets won by a landslide by 25 points, Jokic said the team’s level of focus made them look like a championship team. Then he said himself: “Well, although I haven’t experienced what it’s like to be a champion player, I think we should be close.”

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope is the only Nugget player who knows what it’s like to win an NBA championship ring.

“Everybody wants a championship ring because being a champion in this league is one of the hardest things,” Caldwell-Pope said.

He told his teammates that it would not only redefine them, but change them forever.

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope told reporters: “It had a big impact on me, as I do now. As a professional player and leader, being focused in the crunch time and getting my teammates focused and ready to play . I want all of my teammates to be part of the championship players.”