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.