Arrived this summer from Washington, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope is on paper a perfect complement to the forces already present in the Nuggets’ major five.
Good defender and reliable wrist behind the arc (36% success on 4.7 attempts per game in career), he does not need the leather in his hands, and can therefore play this role of free electron which revolves around Jamal Murray and Nikola Jokic.
As the first is more of a scorer, it is especially the second who should most regularly serve “KCP”.
On the occasion of the Nuggets’ first preseason game earlier this week, the former Pistons and Lakers winger also discovered life with the “Joker”.
On a rather classic placed attack phase for Mike Malone’s troops, the Serbian pivot actually receives the leather at the level of the upper right corner of the racket. At this moment, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope is completely opposite, in the left corner, while the reigning double MVP turns his back completely and even looks in the direction of the right corner, where Aaron Gordon is.
We then say to ourselves that a “handoff” is preparing between Gordon and Jokic, or that Jamal Murray will go to put a screen to offer a cut towards the circle to the former Magic.
It is not so, since it is Kentavious Caldwell-Pope who is served from the other end of the field by a Nikola Jokic who was not looking at him. The winger then takes advantage of the surprise effect of the pass to overtake Tre Mann, and attacks the circle.
” It opened my eyes. » commented afterwards “KCP”, who after enjoying the caviars of LeBron James for three seasons in Los Angeles, discovers another elite “playmaker”. ” I did not expect to receive the pass. […] I am ready to receive others. I will eat my fill this season he added humorously.
In the meantime, Jokic is healing his wrist and Caldwell-Pope will have to wait before taking advantage of the next pass.
| Kentavious Caldwell-Pope | Percentage | Bounces | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Crew | GM | Minimum | Shots | 3 points | LF | Off | Def | Early | pd | party | Int | bp | CT | Points |
| 2013-14 | TED | 80 | 20 | 39.6 | 31.9 | 77.0 | 0.5 | 1.5 | 2.0 | 0.7 | 1.8 | 0.9 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 5.9 |
| 2014-15 | TED | 82 | 32 | 40.1 | 34.5 | 69.6 | 0.6 | 2.6 | 3.1 | 1.3 | 2.0 | 1.1 | 1.2 | 0.2 | 12.7 |
| 2015-16 | TED | 76 | 37 | 42.0 | 30.9 | 81.1 | 0.9 | 2.8 | 3.7 | 1.8 | 2.2 | 1.5 | 1.4 | 0.2 | 14.5 |
| 2016-17 | TED | 76 | 33 | 39.9 | 35.0 | 83.2 | 0.7 | 2.5 | 3.3 | 2.5 | 1.6 | 1.2 | 1.1 | 0.2 | 13.8 |
| 2017-18 | ALL | 74 | 33 | 42.6 | 38.3 | 78.9 | 0.8 | 4.4 | 5.2 | 2.2 | 2.0 | 1.4 | 1.3 | 0.2 | 13.4 |
| 2018-19 | ALL | 82 | 25 | 43.0 | 34.7 | 86.7 | 0.6 | 2.3 | 2.9 | 1.3 | 1.7 | 0.9 | 0.8 | 0.2 | 11.4 |
| 2019-20 | ALL | 69 | 26 | 46.7 | 38.5 | 77.5 | 0.6 | 1.5 | 2.1 | 1.6 | 1.9 | 0.8 | 0.9 | 0.2 | 9.4 |
| 2020-21 | ALL | 67 | 28 | 43.1 | 41.0 | 86.6 | 0.4 | 2.3 | 2.7 | 1.9 | 1.7 | 0.9 | 1.0 | 0.4 | 9.8 |
| 2021-22 | WAS | 77 | 30 | 43.5 | 39.0 | 89.0 | 0.5 | 2.9 | 3.4 | 1.9 | 1.8 | 1.1 | 1.3 | 0.3 | 13.2 |
| Total | 683 | 29 | 42.1 | 36.0 | 81.3 | 0.6 | 2.5 | 3.1 | 1.7 | 1.8 | 1.1 | 1.0 | 0.2 | 11.6 | |
Photo credit: AP
