Steph Curry and LeBron James’ teams are dismissed as Denver’s greatest rivals by a key member of the Nuggets’ 2023 championship squad.

Denver Nuggets shooting guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope was recently asked which Western Conference teams he considers the biggest threats to Denver’s NBA title defense. Despite naming three squads, the two-time champion omitted two of last year’s West semifinalists, the LA Lakers and Golden State Warriors.

Key member of Nuggets' 2023 title success snubs LeBron James and Steph Curry's teams as biggest threats to Denver

With 17 games remaining, the Nuggets (45-20) are tied with the OKC Thunder for first in the West and second in the league. Thus, they are considered favorites to advance to the NBA Finals again. However, with the West’s top-eight seeds separated by just 8.0 games, Denver will likely face a tough pathway to the finals.

During an interview with Bleacher Report’s Chris Haynes, Caldwell-Pope was asked which West teams could pose the toughest challenge to the Nuggets’ title defense. The 31-year-old named the sixth-seeded Phoenix Suns (38-27) and third-seeded Minnesota Timberwolves (45-21).

Nuggets: Analyst calls out LeBron James, Warriors with NBA title in sight

He added that OKC is a lurking dark horse despite being a young, inexperienced team.
“I would say a healthy Phoenix [and] a healthy Minnesota ’cause Minnesota’s always been tough, even last year,” Caldwell-Pope said. “And there’s a lot of young teams, like OKC is on the rise, too, man.”

Expand Tweet

Denver defeated Minnesota (4-1) and Phoenix (4-2) in the first and second rounds of last year’s playoffs, with Caldwell-Pope playing a key role. However, both teams could provide bigger threats to the Nuggets this year.

The Timberwolves boast the league’s No. 1 defense (108.3 defensive rating). Meanwhile, when healthy, the Suns have arguably the NBA’s top Big 3 (Kevin Durant, Devin Booker and Bradley Beal).Nuggets' Nikola Jokic replicates epic Steph Curry, LeBron feat

Nevertheless, Caldwell-Pope failed to acknowledge Denver’s 2023 West finals opponent, the Lakers, whom they swept 4-0. He also snubbed the Warriors, whom LA dispatched 4-2 in last year’s West semifinals.

Also Read: Former Clippers guard snubs Mavericks as 2024 NBA Finals contender for former champions

Nuggets could match up against Lakers or Warriors in first round of 2024 playoffsThe NBA's LeBron James era is over — let's celebrate that

LA (36-30) and Golden State (34-30) are battling for play-in position, sitting ninth and 10th in the West, respectively. So, they aren’t playoff locks. However, both teams have proven cores that have won NBA titles.

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope witnessed firsthand the ceiling of a LeBron James-led Lakers team, as he started on LA’s 2020 title squad. Meanwhile, Steph Curry has led the Warriors to four championships since 2015.

It is widely assumed that the West’s top seeds would prefer avoiding the Lakers and Warriors in the first round. However, given the Nuggets’ placement in the standings, there’s a decent chance they could match up against either team if they advance past the play-in.

If so, it remains to be seen if Caldwell-Pope’s comments will provide bulletin board material for either squad.

Related Posts

‘The View’ Is Making a Big Change for the Upcoming Season…Fans Are Curious to Know

‘The View’ Is Making a Big Change for the Upcoming Season Entertainment gossip and news from Newsweek’s network of contributors The View is undergoing some major changes. During…

Fox News’ Kat Timpf Sends Strong Message to Fans Who Questioned Her Working While Pregnant, Which Could Affect Her Childbirth…Fans Heartbroken

Fox News’ Kat Timpf admits she’s terrified as she fires back at fans questioning her working while pregnant FOX News personality Kat Timpf has fired back at…

Fox News’ Rachel Campos-Duffy Reveals Her ‘Hardships’ Raising 9 Children That Left Fans Heartbroken

Fox News’ Rachel Campos-Duffy on Raising 8 Children in Today’s ‘Aggressive Political Environment’ Rachel Campos-Duffy is the host of new Fox Nation series Moms, which will shine the…

Janice Dean Finally Reveals The Real Tragedy Of Her Life, Bringing Fans To Tears

The Controversy Surrounding Governor Cuomo’s Nursing Home Policies: A Call for Accountability In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo found himself at…

Fox News’ Janice Dean Reveals Tragic Health Update… Fans Are in Tears

The Weather Machine moniker belongs to Janice Dean who has become famous on Fox News for her upbeat weather broadcasts. But behind the scenes, she battles silently…

Dana Perino’s Heartbreaking Goodbye to Husband as She Reveals Tragic Battle Against Illness…Fans Heartbroken

Dana Perino Is Saying Goodbye After Her Husband’s Tragic Diagnosis Dana Perino is known for her poise, intellect, and resilience, but behind her polished professionalism, she’s facing…