NBA FINALS: HEAT VS. NUGGETS

May 31, 2023

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope

Denver Nuggets

Media Day

Q. With such a long layoff, you've been on this stage before, what does it take to get through that lengthy layoff, then be ready to go tomorrow night?

KENTAVIOUS CALDWELL-POPE: Been preparing all week. Just getting treatment, getting our bodies ready to go tomorrow.

But just trying to get through this day as quickly as possible, try to stay focused on what's at task. That's four more wins to be NBA champions.

Q. You are one of the new Nuggets that's actually been on this stage before. Anything that you're telling your teammates, the young guys that haven't been on this stage before, about how to prepare themselves?

KENTAVIOUS CALDWELL-POPE: I mean, they've been doing pretty much a great job of that themselves. For me, it's all about just we've been sitting for a long time. We're going to be a little bit jittery, anxious to play. Just trying to keep them calm, knowing the first couple possessions are going to be a lot, even for myself.

I'm feeling anxious right now to even get out there. But just try to keep them calm, stay focused on what's at task, like I said.

Q. You talked about the focus, everyone using the time off really well. In your NBA career, are there levels to that? Have you seen groups be better or worse with time in between series or games?

KENTAVIOUS CALDWELL-POPE: I mean, this is my third playoff appearance.

I've seen it before. It can happen. You can slip into just getting comfortable because there's that many days off.

But for us, it was more just getting in the gym, doing something, even if we’re not practicing, just doing treatment, free throws, shots, whatever it is, just to get out of the house, do something.

It works for us. We focus, we’re ready. Just excited for tomorrow.

Q. When you look at the Heat matchup, how is it different from the first three matchups in the Playoffs that you guys have had to face?

KENTAVIOUS CALDWELL-POPE: Every series we play, they are tough opponents. They play hard regardless of what it is. This Miami team, just by watching them throughout the Playoffs, they’re relentless. They don’t give up. They are going to play 48 minutes and we have just got to be prepared for it.

Q. There is a bunch of guys who went to the Finals in the bubble. How nice is it to have the full Finals experience, be in an arena with fans?

KENTAVIOUS CALDWELL-POPE: The bubble wasn’t bad. Like you said, no media there, no nothing, just basketball, which was exciting as well. But being here, able to have the fans and everyone here, doing media. This is exciting as well too, because I didn’t get a chance to experience the media aspect and play in front of thousand of fans screaming. Like I said earlier, I’m excited and just happy to be here in this moment.

Q. What was it like to watch the Eastern Conference Finals unfold? To watch Miami go up 3-0, do you start to go through, in your mind, playing Miami. And then obviously it went seven.

KENTAVIOUS CALDWELL-POPE: Yeah, when they went up 3-0, we thought the series was done. But Boston is a great team and they fought back tremendously from 3-0 to tie the series up. We didn’t know who we were going to get at that point once Boston started winning so we just started preparing for both teams.