Throughout the initial week of July, the Orlando Magic officially penned a deal with unrestricted free agent guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope.
Expressing his excitement about the recent addition to the team, President of Basketball Operations Jeff Weltman remarked, “We are thrilled to embrace Kentavious (Caldwell-Pope) joining our squad. Not only does he possess exceptional defensive abilities and accurate shooting skills, but he also carries a commendable character and a track record of winning championships, enhancing our backcourt. We eagerly anticipate assimilating Kentavious into the Orlando Magic family.”
In the previous season, Caldwell-Pope, standing at 6’5″ and weighing 204 pounds, participated in 76 regular season contests with Denver. He averaged 10.1 points, 2.4 rebounds, 2.4 assists, and 1.29 steals per game in 31.6 minutes of play. Caldwell-Pope demonstrated his prowess by making 40.6% (125 out of 308) of his three-point shots and an impressive 89.4% (101 out of 113) from the foul line. His defensive performances were equally notable, ranking 16th in steals and 34th in three-point shooting accuracy across the NBA. Notably, he achieved double-digit scoring in 39 games and surpassed the 20-point mark five times, with a season-high of 24 points against Atlanta on April 6. Moreover, he contributed in 12 playoff matches, averaging 8.1 points, 2.9 rebounds, 2.6 assists, and 1.42 steals per game in 35.0 minutes per game.
Originally selected as the eighth overall pick in the first round of the 2013 NBA Draft by Detroit, Caldwell-Pope has acquired considerable experience across 835 NBA regular season appearances (693 as a starter) for Detroit, the L.A. Lakers, Washington, and Denver. Throughout his career, he has maintained averages of 11.4 points, 3.0 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and 1.15 steals per game in 29.6 minutes of play. Additionally, he has commenced in 62 playoff games, recording 10.1 points, 2.8 rebounds, 1.7 assists, and 1.23 steals per game. Caldwell-Pope secured NBA Championships in the 2019-20 season with the L.A. Lakers and in the 2022-23 season with Denver.
Before his NBA journey, Caldwell-Pope showcased his talents during his time at the University of Georgia, appearing in 64 games over two seasons. Notably, during his sophomore year (2012-13), he played in 32 games and maintained impressive averages of 18.5 points, 7.1 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and 2.03 steals per game. Caldwell-Pope’s stellar performance earned him recognition on the All-SEC First Team and as the SEC Player of the Year.
Image Source: Kentavious Caldwell-Pope @ Instagram
