Kentavious Caldwell-Pope isn’t exactly hiding where he stands in the early-season tension between the Philadelphia 76ers and New York Knicks.
The veteran guard, now part of a 76ers team that has already beaten the Knicks twice this season - including Friday night in NBA Cup play - poured a little more gasoline on the fire with a bold claim about the 2023 Denver Nuggets, the team he won his second championship with. On the latest episode of his podcast, “The Dawg Talk”, Caldwell-Pope said that group would take down the 2026 Knicks in a seven-game series.
“We win 4-2 for sure,” Caldwell-Pope said of a hypothetical matchup between the two sides in the latest episode of his podcast, “The Dawg Talk”.
There’s no way to actually settle that kind of debate, of course, and the current Nuggets are a different team entirely. Three years later, their depth has been thinned out badly by the second apron, which has changed the shape of the roster.
Still, Caldwell-Pope’s confidence isn’t coming from nowhere. That Denver team had Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray operating at their peak, an offense that could overwhelm opponents, and enough defensive toughness around them to make life miserable on the other end.
Caldwell-Pope was a major part of that identity himself, and Denver also had Christian Braun and Bruce Brown available off the bench to pressure Knicks star Jalen Brunson.
There’s also the matter of how the Knicks actually won the 2026 NBA Finals. They trailed in all five games and had to rally in every one of their four victories. Jokic, meanwhile, is a more complete offensive force than San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama, and that Nuggets team showed the kind of late-game poise needed to close.
So maybe Caldwell-Pope has a case. Or maybe he’s just doing what he’s doing best right now: talking up his old title team while adding another layer to a rivalry that already has some heat behind it.
In Other News...
Nick Nurse Addressed Joel Embiids Late Exit Against The Bulls
Joel Embiids night against the Bulls ended early, but the bigger takeaway for the 76ers was the same one that has hovered over him since the foot issue surfaced: keeping him on the floor long enough to help, without pushing too far. Philadelphia handled Chicago 126-107, and Embiid logged 25 minutes before the team shut him down for the rest of the game as part of a minutes restriction. Tyrese Maxey picked up plenty of the offensive slack, finishing with 26 points and 11 assists in a win that looked comfortable long before the final buzzer.
After the game, Nick Nurse said Embiid was okay and made clear the late exit was a team decision tied to managing the injury. For the Sixers, that kind of night has become part of the larger balancing act, where the result matters but so does the long view with Embiid. The encouraging part is that Philadelphia still had enough firepower to control the game even with its centerpiece on a shortened leash, but the real question remains how the team handles that workload going forward. [Read more 🡒]
76ers Could Have A Veteran Answer To Their Backup Center Problem
The 76ers have been searching for ways to shore up their backup center spot, and Brook Lopez has emerged as a name worth watching. The veteran big man is reportedly a potential buyout candidate from the Clippers, a development that could put him on the market if Los Angeles decides to move on amid its struggles and his contract situation.
For Philadelphia, the appeal is obvious. Lopez brings experience and floor spacing, two traits that can help stabilize a second unit that has been viewed as a weakness, and the 76ers could explore adding him if he becomes available. Nothing is settled yet, but his fit is the kind of practical roster solution teams often circle once the buyout market opens. [Read more 🡒]
LeBrons Viral Moment At Sixers Game Is Already Sparking Debate
LeBron James turned a routine courtside moment into one of the nights biggest talking points during the 76ers home game against the Bulls, when he accidentally bumped a fan behind the basket and spilled the drink in the process. He then took a sip from the fans cup, and the whole sequence quickly spread well beyond the arena, with the drink reportedly being wine.
The reaction was immediate and split right down the middle, with some fans and commentators criticizing the move and others brushing it off as harmless. For the Sixers, it was the kind of viral detour that can follow a big-game atmosphere, even when the basketball itself is supposed to be the main event. [Read more 🡒]