Last week, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope agreed to a buyout with the Memphis Grizzlies to reunite with LeBron James in Philadelphia. KCP, who won a title with the four-time MVP in 2020, is a reliable 3-and-D specialist who can give the 76ers’ bench an upgrade.
On Saturday, the veteran guard shared the biggest reason why he left the rebuilding Grizzlies and joined forces with James again.
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope Embracing LeBron James Reunion, Sets Sights on 76ers Playoff Success
Caldwell-Pope did not appear in the 2026 playoffs after the struggling Grizzlies finished this past season with a 25-57 record.
With Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr. no longer in Memphis, the team is embracing a full reset, a situation the 33-year-old veteran didn’t want to be part of.
The two-time champion didn’t hide his excitement about trading a rebuilding situation for a genuine shot at another NBA title.
“I just want to get back to playing meaningful basketball… Playing for something like… Another championship… I still got a lot of years in me that I can still go,” Caldwell-Pope said.
After a sweep at the hands of the eventual champion New York Knicks in the 2026 Eastern Conference semis, the 76ers reloaded with a bang this offseason. They sent the oft-injured Paul George to the Boston Celtics for All-NBA guard Jaylen Brown.
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Incredibly, Philly did not even have to give up VJ Edgecombe or Tyrese Maxey to land the 2024 NBA Finals MVP. That trade alone made the 76ers one of the bona fide contenders to dethrone the Knicks.
James had no shortage of familiar options, but he chose a different path. Passing on potential reunions with Miami and Cleveland, the four-time NBA champion instead brought his talents to Philadelphia, giving the 76ers a significant boost in their title pursuit.
James joins a core that has Maxey, Brown, Edgecombe, and former MVP Joel Embiid. The 76ers easily have one of the strongest starting fives in the NBA.
Philadelphia also retooled the bench to keep its starters fresh. They added Anfernee Simons and Dean Wade to the supporting cast. Caldwell-Pope, a proven playoff performer, gives the group much-needed shooting and defense.
In 2020, James and KCP helped end the Lakers’ 10-year championship drought. Together in Philly, they hope to do the same for the 76ers, a franchise that hasn’t won the title in 43 years.
