"Everybody likes to defend": Kentavious Caldwell-Pope highlights early impression of Orlando Magic
The Orlando Magic brought in two-time NBA champion Kentavious Caldwell-Pope this offseason, aiming to leverage his veteran experience and two-way skills. Despite joining a young roster, Caldwell-Pope has already offered high praise for the Magic.
During the Magic's media day, KCP expressed amazement at the team's defensive performance.
“This is the first team that I’ve been on where everybody likes to defend,” KCP said (per NBA.com). "That’s exciting for me. It makes me want to compete even more on that end. I’m just looking forward to being that team that’s going to be hard to score on. That (says a lot) in this league. A team that gets stops wins games.”
Entering his 12th NBA season, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope is set to begin his first year with the Magic after signing a three-year, $66 million contract that includes a player option for the final year.
Since being drafted eighth overall by the Detroit Pistons in 2013, he has built a reputation as a reliable role player during his time with the LA Lakers, Washington Wizards and Denver Nuggets.
He won championships in 2020 while playing alongside standout defenders like Anthony Davis, Dwight Howard and Alex Caruso, as well as LeBron James, and again in 2023 with the Nuggets, teaming up with Nikola Jokic and Aaron Gordon.
With the Magic, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope joins a youthful core that includes Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner, Jonathan Isaac, Anthony Black, Wendell Carter Jr. and Jalen Suggs, who made an All-Defensive Team last season.
In his last playoff run with the Nuggets, KCP averaged 8.1 points, 2.9 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game, shooting 39.5%, including 32.7% from the 3-point line.
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope expresses excitement playing with “hungry” young guys
Last season, the young Orlando Magic made it to the playoffs and pushed the Cleveland Cavaliers to Game 7 in the first round, although they ultimately fell short.
On an episode of The Draymond Green Show, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope shared his enthusiasm about joining a group eager for more postseason success.
"I'm excited all around to be able to play with a young group of guys that's hungry, that's had a taste of the playoffs and took Cleveland to a Game 7," KCP said (per SI.com).
"They know what it takes. Just talking to a few guys, their mindset is about winning. It's about winning basketball games and trying to get to that point of winning a championship."
The Magic concluded last season with a 47-35 record and ranked second in defensive rating.