LeBron James finally announce where he would be playing basketball next season as he will be taking his talents to Philadelphia on a two-year contract with the 76ers. This decision reshapes the entire NBA as the 76ers now look like one of the favorites to win the NBA Finals over the next two years.
James however can't do it on his own, and that is where former Georgia Bulldog Kentavious Caldwell-Pope comes into play. He suited up alongside James when the Los Angeles Lakers won an NBA Championship in 2020, and James clearly wanted to play with him again because he just signed a one-year deal with Philly.
LeBron James got his wish granted to reunite with former Georgia Bulldog Kentavious Caldwell-Pope
Caldwell-Pope immediately signed with Philly after James announced that he was moving to Philly as well. James obviously isn't a part of Philly's front office, but he has been known to pull a lot of strings and get the players he wants to come play with him. So there is a chance that James had a say in getting Philly to sign Caldwell-Pope.
Caldwell-Pope and James played together for three years with the Lakers. One of those years was 2020 when the Lakers won an NBA Championship. Caldwell-Pope will bring that experience to an organization in Philly who haven't won a championship since 1983.
Their one and only goal is to win a championship during the two years that James is with them, and Caldwell-Pope brings some veteran experience they will need to lead their young core who hasn't made a deep playoff run in their careers.
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope looks to continue Georgia's surprising NBA success
Basketball isn't the first sport anyone thinks about when they think of Georgia athletics, but the Bulldogs have a decent history of successful players in the NBA.
The most known is Dominique Wilkins who was a nine-time All Star and made the NBA's 75th Anniversary Team.
Anthony Edwards is the best former Bulldog still playing today. He has made multiple All Star games as well and has been the face of the Minnesota Timberwolves franchise ever since he was drafted.
Caldwell-Pope is more of a role player compared to Wilkins or Edwards, but he has had a very successful career. He was drafted 8th overall in the 2013 NBA Draft by the Detroit Pistons. Throughout most of his career he has averaged double digit points, but the last few years that has dropped to around eight points per game.
The 76ers won't need him to be a superstar though. They need him to be a solid presence in their locker room, a leader and someone who doesn't shy away during the biggest moments of any game. That is who Caldwell-Pope has proven to be his entire career, especially when he won a championship with James and the Lakers.
That is likely why James and the 76ers wanted to sign him in the first place, and now it will be fun for Georgia fans to watch him hopefully win another championship next year.
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