Tag: Kentavious Caldwell-Pope Lakers

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope captures first NBA Finals ring

Former Georgia basketball star Kentavious Caldwell-Pope captures his first NBA championship with the Los Angeles Lakers

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It was an emotional Sunday night for the Los Angeles Lakers to say the least.  Just months after the tragic passing of Lakers legend Kobe Bryant, and after months of being inside the NBA bubble in Orlando, FL, the Lakers are NBA Finals champions for the 17th time.

Led by LeBron James and Anthony Davis, Los Angeles managed to defeat the red hot Miami Heat in six games.  The Lakers are now tied with the Boston Celtics for most championships ever by a franchise.

Of the supporting cast around the two superstars, former Georgia standout Kentavious Caldwell-Pope was one that made a big difference.

Caldwell-Pope averaged 10.7 points, 2.1 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 1 steal per game during the 2020 playoffs.  In the game six closeout game on Sunday night, Caldwell-Pope put up big numbers, going for 17 points and a pair of rebounds.

Caldwell-Pope will go down in history as an NBA champion in a year that many say was the hardest championship ever won.  Congrats to KCP on an incredible championship run.

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope looks to capture first NBA Finals tonight

Former Georgia basketball star Kentavious Caldwell-Pope looks to capture his first NBA Finals tonight as the Lakers lead the Heat 3-1.

Former Georgia basketball star Kentavious Caldwell-Pope looks to capture his first NBA Finals ring tonight as the Los Angeles Lakers lead the Miami Heat 3-1.  Game Five tips off tonight at 9:00 PM ET on ABC.

Caldwell-Pope has averaged 9.3 points, 2.1 rebounds and 1.6 assists this season, blossoming into an important role player for superstars LeBron James and Anthony Davis.

Lakers president Jeannie Buss has made it clear she wants to establish the Lakers future foundation now and part of that future is Caldwell-Pope.  Caldwell-Pope signed a 2-year deal prior to the season that is worth nearly $17 million.

Caldwell-Pope had a big moment in Game One of the series.  Down 23-10 to the Heat in the first quarter, he buried a pair of threes and then added a few more points in the paint to cut the early deficit.  That was a crucial momentum swing that helped get the Lakers back on track for the game to close out the Heat.

On that moment, Lakers’ star center Anthony Davis said: “KCP saved us.”

Caldwell-Pope is in his seventh year in the league and shooting his best field goal percentage (46.7) as well as his best three-point field goal percentage (38.5).  He has been a great spark for Los Angeles when they need it most.

Caldwell-Pope, who was named SEC Player of the Year in 2013 with the Bulldogs, is now just one win away from being an NBA champion forever.