Kentavious Caldwell-Pope remarkably turned around his season to be a key contributor for the Los Angeles Lakers.
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope‘s time with the Los Angeles Lakers to date has been up-and-down, to say the least. The 27-year-old has been with the purple and gold for 3 seasons and has been subject to intense criticism. Mainly due to his inconsistent performances and streaky shooting.
The saying traditionally goes “from hero to zero” but it’s been quite the opposite for Caldwell-Pope (literally!). He opened the 2019-20 season with a 0-point showing against cross-city rivals, the Los Angeles Clippers. He followed that with a 1-point effort against the Utah Jazz.
Even though he finished October with 10 and 13-point outings against the Charlotte Hornets and Memphis Grizzlies, respectively, the criticism of KCP was in full flow. Throughout November, he was still producing low scoring efforts. Including another 0-point performance in a loss against the Toronto Raptors. His defensive efforts appeared passive too.
Between November 16-26, he started to find some form, however. Passing double-figures in scoring for 6 consecutive games. Including 17 points in a road victory in Oklahoma. After shooting 22.2% from 3 in October, he finished November converting at a 43.5% rate from downtown.
He hasn’t really looked back since too. Shooting 46.2.% from beyond the arc in December and 42.6% in January. His 3-point antics did slip in February (30.4%) and March (28.6%) but his general field goal percentage increased to 46.4% and 51.4%, respectively. As he found multiple ways to score the ball inside the arc.
From there the season was suspended. Upon the season restart in the bubble, KCP was streaky but as was the entire Lakers team as they saw out the regular season.
Through 69 regular-season contests, he posted averages of 9.3 points, 2.1 rebounds, and 1.6 assists. On 46.7% shooting from the field (career-high) and 38.5% from 3-point range (career-high).
When no one expected it at the start of the season, Caldwell-Pope had all of a sudden become the Lakers’ near 40% 3-point shooter. In-fact, he led the Lakers in shooting from beyond the arc, in players that attempted 1+ shots per game.
He was the 4th-highest Laker in fast break points, as he would consistently be lurking in the wings as the Lakers sped down the court. But it wasn’t just his offensive antics that caught the eye. His defensive presence on the team has been ever-present too.
As Avery Bradley decided to sit out for the NBA restart, KCP was placed into a starting role and his game has reached new heights since. Especially in the postseason.
He shot 39.5% from 3 as the Lakers dispatched the Portland Trail Blazers in 5 games of the first round. Being a pivotal part of the defensive rotation to regularly hard-double and hassle Portland’s elite backcourt of Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum.
A similar role was adopted in round 2, as the Lakers gentleman’s swept the Houston Rockets. He shot an incredible 47.3% from downtown and again, was a huge part of the Lakers’ containing another elite backcourt. This time with James Harden and Russell Westbrook.
In the Western Conference Finals, his hot hand continued as he averaged 11.2 points on 52.8% shooting from the field, 38.7% from 3. As the Lakers pushed the Denver Nuggets to one-side (4-1), to advance to the NBA Finals for the first time in 10 years.
On the biggest stage of all, KCP was a key contributor as the Lakers won the 2020 NBA Championship with a 4-2 series victory over the Miami Heat. He averaged 12.8 points, 2.8 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1 steal over the course of the series.
He may have only shot 35.8% from the field in the finals, but his gritty defense was vital. That, and in games 4, 5, and 6, he scored 15, 16, and 17 points, respectively. Providing that much-needed scoring punch. Impressively, he expanded his game inside of the 3-point line. Where he had occasional aggressive bursts to the rim, he converted in transition, and also knocked down some mid-range looks.
Through 21 playoff contests, Caldwell-Pope sat 4th-highest on the Lakers in offensive rating (116.9) and was 5th-highest in plus/minus, with an average of +3.6. Late in the shot clock, with 4-7 seconds remaining, he converted at a 50% clip. In clutch moments, with 4 seconds or less on the clock, he shot 42.1%.
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope’s turnaround in the 2019-20 NBA season has been nothing short of remarkable. He has transformed from a walking meme to a regular contributor and a borderline fan-favorite. Consistency is key, on both ends of the court, and KCP is certainly now one of the Lakers’ leaders in that category.