The Denver Nuggets had all the ingredients for an NBA Finals run this season -- Nikola Jokic's all-around greatness, Jamal Murray's sweet ball handling, Michael Porter Jr.'s board crashing and arc accuracy, Aaron Gordon's above-the-rim brilliance.
Enter Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, who won a title with the Los Angeles Lakers inside the NBA bubble in 2020.
"He's just the ultimate leader, ultimate professional, comes in every day and works extremely hard, holds everyone accountable," said fellow 2022-23 addition Bruce Brown Jr. "But he is the only one on this team who has won a championship. He knows what it takes and what we need to do. So, we gotta listen to that guy."
The Nuggets' four-game sweep of the Lakers secured the franchise's first Western Conference title and sent the Nuggets to their first NBA Finals appearance in their history and to their first championship series since they lost to Julius Erving and the New York Nets 4-2 in the ABA's last season in 1976.
Caldwell-Pope was an integral part of the Lakers' championship run in 2020, averaging 10.7 points and starting in all of LA's 21 playoff games. He helped the Lakers beat the Nuggets in five games for the Western Conference title in the bubble. Whether he's doling out tips or quietly going about his business, KCP has been a big part of the Nuggets' longest playoff drive in their history.
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