Kentavious Caldwell-Pope is one of the NBA’s best perimeter defenders. Despite that, he’s never been recognized with a postseason award for his defensive ability. Caldwell-Pope wants to change that this season.
“I got one goal, man, either Defensive Player of the Year or first-team. I’m going to continue to push that envelope,” Caldwell-Pope said after his Denver Nuggets defeated the Golden State Warriors.
Caldwell-Pope helped harass Stephen Curry into 6-of-17 shooting in the Nuggets win. That was a throwback to when Caldwell-Pope first burst on the scene as a defensive player.
In a game in his second season, Caldwell-Pope’s Pistons were huge underdogs to the Warriors in 2015. In a seven-point loss, Caldwell-Pope helped hold Curry to just nine points on 4-of-15 shooting. That game put him on the map as one of the NBA’s best perimeter defenders.