Laker-Turned-Nugget Hoping For Championship Parade After Being Denied One In 2020

Your Los Angeles Lakers proper may have been ousted from the 2023 playoffs last week by the Denver Nuggets, but they do have plenty of representation on both sides of the ongoing NBA Finals.

Former LA role player-turned-storied head coach Pat Riley is the team president of the East's representative this season, the Miami Heat, while three ex-Lakers players are on the Denver side of the matchup in swingman Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (who won a title as a starter with LA in 2020 against Miami) and little-used reserve centers Thomas Bryant and DeAndre Jordan.

Brandon "Scoop B" Robinson of Bally Sports recently discussed why KCP is especially motivated to have a big series and win his second title this year.

NBA Finals between the Miami Heat & Denver Nuggets has big storylines.

Ahead of Game 1, I sat down with @AJEnglish & discussed tons including:

✅ A DJ Khaled Major Key 🔑
✅ Denver Nuggets’ defensive keys
✅ Kentavious Caldwell-Pope wanting a Parade after not having one in LA. pic.twitter.com/q14O7KXhz9
— 👑 Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson (@ScoopB) June 1, 2023

"Kentavious Caldwell-Pope of the Denver Nuggets shared with me at points this season that one of his biggest regrets is that when he was a member of the Los Angeles Lakers during the bubble championship in 2020, he did not get a championship parade, because [it happened at] the height of the COVID pandemic at the time. He says, 'I want my championship [parade],'" Robinson offered.

He averaged 10.7 points on .418/.378/.815 shooting splits, 2.1 rebounds, 1.3 dimes, and 1.0 steals a night for LA, while playing solid defense, during that 2020 championship run.

Of course, this all hinges on Denver winning a title against the Heat, which it is heavily favored by Vegas oddsmakers to do.

Denver was actually much more dominant than its 104-93 Game 1 home win score might suggest, as the Nuggets let go of the rope a bit with the game all but decided during the fourth quarter. Denver led for most of the time, including the entire second half, and its advantaged ballooned to as much as 24 points.

Caldwell-Pope had a modest opening game, scoring just seven points on 3-of-8 shooting from the floor, grabbing three rebounds, and swiping one steal.

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