Kentavious Caldwell-Pope makes his case for First Team All-Defense

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope’s First Team All-Defense campaign gained significant ground in the Nuggets’ 120-114 Christmas Day win over the Warriors.

Steph Curry, Caldwell-Pope’s primary defensive assignment Monday night, was held to just 18 points (his fourth-lowest scoring game of the season) on 7-21 shooting.

“Watching him tonight was…” Michael Malone said postgame trying to find the right words to describe Caldwell-Pope’s defensive impact. “If that guy is not considered one of the best perimeter defenders in the NBA, I don’t know who is. I just have to say that because I don’t think KCP gets the respect that he deserves, to be honest.”

Caldwell-Pope has been the best defender all season on a Nuggets’ defense that ranks 8th in the NBA. He’s currently tied for 1st in Defensive Field Goal Percentage with the Timberwolves’ Nickeil Alexander-Walker (minimum 250 shots defended), and opponents are shooting just 40.8% when guarded by Caldwell-Pope this year.

On the season, Caldwell-Pope ranks 5th in total steals and has collected at least two steals in four straight games. He had games of four steals against the Kings earlier this month and five steals vs. the Grizzlies in October.

Against Curry and the Warriors, Caldwell-Pope’s overall quickness and ability to stay attached to his defender was on display for a national audience.

“I think KCP is one of the best I’ve ever seen in terms of not allowing any separation,” Malone said.

“If you want to simplify the game of basketball, great defensive players negate separation, and the great offensive players create it.”

Two of Curry’s three turnovers against the Nuggets came as a result of Caldwell-Pope staying attached to his hip and not letting him loose.

“We think he’s a First Team All-NBA defensive player,” said Malone during an in-game interview on ABC.

The Nuggets’ push for Caldwell-Pope to make First Team All-Defense feels international. But it’s warranted.

Caldwell-Pope has held Curry to 13-38 (34.2%) across two matchups with the Warriors this season. He’s shut down Shai Gilgous-Alexander and other All-Star caliber guards too.

The Nuggets just want Caldwell-Pope to get the praise that his defense warrants and deserves.

After this performance on national TV, maybe it will come.

“He takes tremendous pride on that end of the floor,” said Malone. “He knows that for this team, that is his No. 1 job each and every night, to go out there and guard the other team’s best player. And he does it at an extremely high level.”