When does Kentavious Caldwell-Pope make his homecoming to Ball Arena?

Claiming that Kentaviosu Caldwell-Pope left the Nuggets on bad terms or that there is bad blood between the two parties would be a stretch. KCP wasn’t in Denver for long but immediately became a beloved player. He did all of the little things and proved to be the perfect role player for the team.

It’s not a coincidence that the team reached another level once Caldwell-Pope joined the team and rounded out the starting lineup. For the rest of eternity, he’ll be a local legend for the role he played in helping the team win their first NBA title in franchise history.

Furthermore, KCP’s exit from Denver seems to be mostly the fault of the team. His play fell off last season and he wasn’t great in the playoffs, but the fans loved him and wanted him to stay. If anything, the front office and ownership became pseudo-villains for not retaining Caldwell-Pope.

The Nuggets had Bird Rights on KCP and could have paid him as much - or more - than any other team. But clearly, they made a financial decision and were not willing to offer Caldwell-Pope nearly as much as he received on the open market.

So despite a short but sweet run, Caldwell-Pope became a casualty of the salary cap (and new CBA) and ended up signing in Orlando for three years and $66 million to join the Magic. Just like that, KCP was gone and the Nuggets had moved on to investing in their young recent draft picks.

But Caldwell-Pope has fit right in with the Magic and should provide the type of veteran leadership and championship pedigree that a young Orlando team desperately needs. He should fit like a glove, and will almost certainly elevate that team that is hoping to take a leap into contention in the Eastern Conference.

In fact, KCP even took a subtle shot at the Nuggets - and his other former teams - when he praised the Magic and his new teammates, stating that he’s never been on a team where everyone liked playing defense.

Caldwell-Pope returns to Denver on February 6th

Regardless of how things play out with his new team, it seems unlikely that Kentavious will ever be viewed as anything but a hero by Nuggets fans. He’ll make his return to Denver for the first and only time this season on Thursday, February 6th, 2025. 

The Magic will play the Nuggets twice this season (unless they meet in the In-Season Tournament or NBA Finals), first in Orlando on January 19th, then in Ball Arena in February. Fans should be sure to give the championship starter a rousing ovation and a warm welcome. There should be zero ill-will towards the player and if anyone even thinks of booing him, they should be ashamed.