Why Kentavious Caldwell-Pope has been the perfect fit in Denver

Still shell-shocked from their opening night blowout defeat in Utah, Michael Malone and his team assembled for an optional shootaround the morning after their 123-102 loss to the Jazz.

As the Nuggets went through their individual workouts, one player caught Malone’s eye.

Denver’s coach watched closely as Kentavious Caldwell-Pope went through his off-day shooting routine. Shot after shot, rep after rep, Malone observed a scientist in his lab. Catch-and-shoot 3s from all spots on the floor, including the coveted corners that the Nuggets have been preaching their wings to occupy as much as possible. Pull-up, off-the-dribble jumpers that simulated the exact types of shots Caldwell-Pope gets within Denver’s offense. Mid-range looks that would come via dribble hand-offs with Nikola Jokic. His full repertoire was on display.

Caldwell-Pope went 0-3 from the floor against the Jazz. He didn’t get up the number of shots that he wanted to. The picturesque jump shot that’s helped him carve out a 10-year NBA career just didn’t feel right either. As he does after every game where his shot feels off, Caldwell-Pope was back on the court the next day to work out the kinks.

It was a revealing workout for Malone to take in.

“I’m sitting there, just amazed at watching Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and how hard he works and the pace that he works at,” Malone said. “That guy is a pro, and I’m not just saying that because he’s a 10-year vet. I’m not just saying that because he won a championship with the Lakers.”

Malone’s saying that because that’s who Caldwell-Pope is at his core. The 29-year-old knows how he’s survived and thrived in the NBA for the last decade. He knows his strengths and weaknesses. When asked about his shootaround workout following the loss in Utah, Caldwell-Pope simply replied, “That’s what I do. It’s 10 years in for me.” For the 29-year-old, it’s that simple. He knows his routine, his role and won’t color outside the lines. That discipline has allowed Caldwell-Pope to fit in so seamlessly with the Nuggets through the regular season’s first 10 games.

Caldwell-Pope, or Kenny Pope as he’s called inside Denver’s locker room, is the only member of Denver’s starting lineup that’s new to town, but he operates within the Nuggets’ offense like he’s played alongside Nikola Jokic for years. That veteran awareness has already earned Caldwell-Pope an endorsement from the back-to-back MVP.

“KCP is probably the only guy who’s running every time to the corner,” Jokic said. “That’s his job. He knows that he’s going to get that shot. That’s why he’s played so much for good teams. Because he’s doing his job. I think that’s really rare in the league that he’s accepting what he’s good at.”

“KCP’s the guy who’s been in the right spot every time, I don’t know how. Nobody is telling him. He has a good feel for the game, a good feel for space.”

Denver’s offseason trade for Caldwell-Pope was a difficult one for Nuggets general manager Calvin Booth to pull the trigger on, but one he knew he ultimately had to execute. Caldwell-Pope, who was a trade target of multiple contenders this offseason, instantly upgraded Denver’s perimeter defense and embodies the “big guard” archetype that Booth wants to fill the Nuggets’ backcourt. How Caldwell-Pope fit on the 2020 NBA Champion Lakers factored in as well. Caldwell-Pope played so well off of LeBron James and Anthony Davis that it was easy to envision how he’d fit alongside the offensive firepower already in Denver.

Through 10 games, Caldwell-Pope has been exactly as advertised. He’s averaging 11.3 points, which is right in line with his career average. He’s shooting 22-42 (52.4%) from 3-point range on 4.7 attempts per game. For his career, Caldwell-Pope averages exactly 4.7 3-point attempts per game.

On catch-and-shoot 3s, which has already been and will continue to be his bread-and-butter in Denver, Calwell-Pope’s shooting 21-35 (60%), which leads the NBA out of players with at least 30 attempts. He’s been deadly from the corners too. Caldwell-Pope was one of the most efficient corner 3-point shooters in the league last year, knocking in 46.8% of his attempts. This season, Calwell-Pope is converting 11-20 (55%) of his corner 3s. He’s always ready to shoot, especially when Jokic is holding the rock.

“All I’ve been told since I’ve been here is that when Joker has the ball you’ve got to be ready to shoot,” Caldwell-Pope said.

The Nuggets’ team defense has disappointed out of the gate, but Caldwell-Pope has been solid on that end. He’s sturdy and switchable, and his experience means that NBA offenses aren’t throwing anything at Calwell-Pope that he hasn’t seen before. Over the Nuggets’ recent home-in-home set against the Spurs, Caldwell-Pope registered seven steals across two games.

He’s an elite anticipatory defender.

Caldwell-Pope combined with Bruce Brown and Aaron Gordon should make up the most versatile Nuggets defense of the Jokic era. Denver has never had this many above-average defensive players in its rotation under Malone.

“We can mix and match so many different ways,” said Jamal Murrays.

Calwell-Pope also entered Malone’s circles of trust the minute he put on a Nuggets jersey. Denver’s coach has already given Caldwell-Pope, along with Brown, a coveted “license” this season. It’s the same license that trusted defender Gary Harris got with the Nuggets.

The license means Caldwell-Pope has the ultimate trust of Denver’s coaching staff. He’s allowed to deviate from the defense game plan where he sees fit. He’s allowed a freedom within Denver’s defensive scheme that others aren’t. If the Nuggets’ game plan calls for Denver’s defenders to stay attached and connected to an opposing shooter at all costs, as it did recently against Doug McDermott, Caldwell-Pope has the privilege to go outside the scheme. He’s empowered to defend that matchup how he wants to. Of course, he’s still going to stay attached to those shooters, but Caldwell-Pope can also improvise within Denver’s defense. Most of his teammates don’t have that type of allowance.

The veteran has already had an impact on Denver’s youth too. At a practice earlier this season, Nuggets assistant Ogi Stojakovic pulled rookie Christian Braun into a shooting workout he was putting Caldwell-Pope through. From that point on, Braun has been by Caldwell-Pope’s side whenever the veteran is putting in reps on the practice court. The Nuggets hope that some of Caldwell-Pope’s shooting wisdom trickles down to the rookie.

“If you’ve got an inch, just shoot the ball,” Caldwell-Pope says he tells Braun.

Caldwell-Pope was once that inexperienced guard trying to find his place in a rotation. When he broke into the NBA as the eighth overall pick out of Georgia in 2013, Caldwell-Pope entered a Detroit Pistons locker room stocked with veterans who made a lasting impression on him. Chauncey Billups taught him how to be a professional and the daily work required to carve out a long and successful career. Assistant coach Rasheed Wallace imparted wisdom on him too. During his time on the Lakers, Caldwell-Pope credited Rajon Rondo with teaching him how to prepare for each game and how much film you really have to watch to be a difference-maker defensively.

Caldwell-Pope says he watches film every day. The night before each game, he likes to catch Denver’s next opponent’s previous game.

It’s a mindset that the Nuggets needed on this team this year if Denver wants to accomplish its goal. Caldwell-Pope, an NBA champion in 2020, has been there before. He’s seen everything. He’s encountered every situation. He’s excelled in the highest-leverage moments. He knows the work, the hours and the dedication needed to win a championship.

“KCP, the way he’s shooting, the way he carries himself, his work ethic,” Malone said. “He’s just been a tremendous addition for us in so many ways.”

“I’m thrilled that he’s here.”