KCP is back with The King. As Pope looks to contribute to the Philadelphia 76ers, James will be helping lead the charge.
NBA great LeBron James has played with a large number of players.
Some enjoyed their time with him, while others have had their own personal reasons. One of his former teammates will be reuniting with him in hopes of winning another championship. Shooting guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope recently appeared on The Paint NBA to talk about joining the Philadelphia 76ers.
The two brought a championship to the Los Angeles Lakers in 2020. During their time together, Pope was a very important part of their championship run. Caldwell-Pope was one of the top wing defenders and had a knack for making important three-pointers when the team needed it the most.
In a recent conversation, Pope explained he is willing to do whatever it takes to help the 76ers win. He doesn’t even want to be a starter; he's willing to come off the bench if it means the team has a better chance at winning. These are the kinds of teammates James needs, a guy who doesn’t mind doing the dirty work or taking a lesser role to help with the team’s success.
This speaks to James' personality. Some players, when they get from under the shadow of a star like James, never want to return. It’s part of the reason Kyrie Irving felt the need to leave the Cleveland Cavaliers. Now the comparison of him to Caldwell-Pope may not be similar, but look at a former player like James Jones. Jones followed LeBron from Miami to Cleveland and understood his value to the team.
It takes a village; it may be a saying people use for the kids, but the same applies to a championship team. You can’t win it by yourself; you have to take the time to get things in order. Think of your role players as the aunts and uncles who come in when the parents need a break. Your role player keeps things afloat and prevents the ship from sinking.
Caldwell-Pope is going to bring a tenacious defender who can take on the team’s toughest assignment. This is a guy who’s won two championships and played a pivotal role for both teams. His impact on the 2023 Denver Nuggets is something the team is still suffering from.
His impact will be felt when he steps on the floor no matter who is paired alongside him. As a vocal leader on the team, he can make things a lot easier for Philadelphia and present a calming presence when they have to get some important defensive stops and be an offensive hassle when it’s necessary.
