University of Georgia Athletics
Photo by: AP
Former Bulldogs Begin Professional Seasons Worldwide
September 29, 2021 | Men's Basketball
KCP moves from L.A. to D.C.
ATHENS, Ga. — Numerous former Georgia Bulldogs are gearing up for the professional seasons, both in the U.S. and internationally
In the NBA, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Nicolas Claxton and Anthony Edwards are on the front end of their NBA training camps. Internationally, at least a dozen Bulldogs are playing in Europe, Asia and the Caribbean.
Caldwell-Pope, who was the 2013 SEC Player of the Year and went on to become the No. 8 overall pick in the NBA Draft that year, will be in his ninth season in the league and first with the Washington Wizards.
Caldwell-Pope, who led the SEC in scoring as a sophomore in 2013, played his first four seasons with the Detroit Pistons from 2013-16 before being a member of the Los Angeles Lakers for the last four campaigns. The Greenville, Ga., helped lead the Lakers to the 2020 NBA Championship, starting all 21 games of the playoffs and averaging 10.7 points per game in the Lakers' run to the title. Caldwell-Pope was traded from the Lakers to the Wizards during the offseason, moving KCP from L.A. to D.C.
"I feel like my main role is going to be a more vocal leader," Caldwell-Pope said during the Wizards' media day earlier this week. "I know I'm going to compete every night – '3' and 'D' that's my game. I'm going to add a little more I've been working on this summer. Not too much. I'm just going to bring that competitiveness, that leadership and just a championship mentality here. I'll try to get guys on one accord, try to get guys to do things together, on the court and off the court together as much as possible."
Claxton enters his third NBA season with the Brooklyn Nets. He was the first pick in the second round of the 2019 Draft following an explosive sophomore season with the Bulldogs.
After averaging 3.9 points and 3.9 rebounds with one double-digit scoring performance as a freshman, Claxton averaged team highs of 13.0 points and 8.6 boards while accumulating 21 double-figure scoring outputs and 12 double-doubles as a sophomore. He also led the SEC and ranked No. 10 nationally in blocks, paced the Bulldogs in steals and finished second on the team in assists. Last season, Claxton became a key figure in the Nets' rotation, averaging 6.6 points, 5.2 rebounds and 1.3 blocks in 18.6 minutes per game of playing time.
"I just want to continue to improve and build off of what I did last year," Claxton said during the Nets' media day. "I want to expand a little bit and help the team in any way that I can. This offseason I've been working on getting stronger and tweaking a few mechanics with my shot. Overall and mentally, I'm in a good spot right now going into the year. I'm really excited about this upcoming season."
Edwards was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2020 Draft and enjoyed an explosive rookie campaign with the Minnesota Timberwolves comparable to many of the league's greatest players.
After leading the SEC in scoring, being the nation's top-scoring freshman and earning 2020 SEC Freshman of the Year honors, Edwards was a unanimous selection to the NBA's All-Rookie team in 2021. He was named the Western Conference Rookie of the Month three times (March, April, May) and tallied a rookie-leading and Timberwolves rookie record 36 20+ point games. Edwards erupted for a career-high 42 points in the Timberwolves' victory in Phoenix on March 18 to become the first Timberwolves rookie to score 40+ points in a game. At 19 years and 225 days old, Edwards became the third-youngest player in NBA history to score 40+ points behind LeBron James (2003-04, 19y-88d) and Kevin Durant (2007-08, 19y-200d).
"I like coming in and having a lot of weight on my shoulders and performing at the highest level that I can," Edwards said during the Timberwolves' media day. "I put a lot of time in this summer in the gym so I'm ready for it. (During the offseason I've work on) shooting the ball. Anything with shooting – catch and shoot, off the dribble, step backs, DHOs. Whatever you call shooting, that's what I was working on. I'm ready for whatever. This is just my second year. I'm still learning. I don't know a lot, really. All I know is grab a ball, go out there and play and have fun. Whatever there is for me to learn, I'm ready."
In addition, the following Bulldogs have signed overseas contracts and have begun or will begin their seasons in the coming weeks.
• Nemanja "Nemi" Djurisic - Estudiantes in Spanish LEB Gold
• John Florveus – CB Prat Juventud in Spanish LEB Gold
• J.J. Frazier - Samsun BSB Anakent in Turkish TBL
• Rayshaun Hammonds - VEF Riga in Latvia LBL
• Jordan Harris - Glasgow Rocks in British BBL
• Travis Leslie - Leones de Ponce in Puerto Rican BSN
• Yante Maten - Wonju DB Promy Korean KBL
• Derek Ogbeide - PAOK in Greek A1 league
• Gerald Robinson - NINERS Chemnitz in German BBL
• Trey Thompkins - Real Madrid in Spanish Liga Endesa
• Dustin Ware - MZT Skopje in North Macedonia Prva League
• Terrance Woodbury - Kagawa FA in Japanese B2 League
Updates on Georgia players competing in international leagues can be found at eurobasket.com and searching by the country or player's name.
In the NBA, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Nicolas Claxton and Anthony Edwards are on the front end of their NBA training camps. Internationally, at least a dozen Bulldogs are playing in Europe, Asia and the Caribbean.
Caldwell-Pope, who was the 2013 SEC Player of the Year and went on to become the No. 8 overall pick in the NBA Draft that year, will be in his ninth season in the league and first with the Washington Wizards.
Caldwell-Pope, who led the SEC in scoring as a sophomore in 2013, played his first four seasons with the Detroit Pistons from 2013-16 before being a member of the Los Angeles Lakers for the last four campaigns. The Greenville, Ga., helped lead the Lakers to the 2020 NBA Championship, starting all 21 games of the playoffs and averaging 10.7 points per game in the Lakers' run to the title. Caldwell-Pope was traded from the Lakers to the Wizards during the offseason, moving KCP from L.A. to D.C.
"I feel like my main role is going to be a more vocal leader," Caldwell-Pope said during the Wizards' media day earlier this week. "I know I'm going to compete every night – '3' and 'D' that's my game. I'm going to add a little more I've been working on this summer. Not too much. I'm just going to bring that competitiveness, that leadership and just a championship mentality here. I'll try to get guys on one accord, try to get guys to do things together, on the court and off the court together as much as possible."
Claxton enters his third NBA season with the Brooklyn Nets. He was the first pick in the second round of the 2019 Draft following an explosive sophomore season with the Bulldogs.
After averaging 3.9 points and 3.9 rebounds with one double-digit scoring performance as a freshman, Claxton averaged team highs of 13.0 points and 8.6 boards while accumulating 21 double-figure scoring outputs and 12 double-doubles as a sophomore. He also led the SEC and ranked No. 10 nationally in blocks, paced the Bulldogs in steals and finished second on the team in assists. Last season, Claxton became a key figure in the Nets' rotation, averaging 6.6 points, 5.2 rebounds and 1.3 blocks in 18.6 minutes per game of playing time.
"I just want to continue to improve and build off of what I did last year," Claxton said during the Nets' media day. "I want to expand a little bit and help the team in any way that I can. This offseason I've been working on getting stronger and tweaking a few mechanics with my shot. Overall and mentally, I'm in a good spot right now going into the year. I'm really excited about this upcoming season."
Edwards was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2020 Draft and enjoyed an explosive rookie campaign with the Minnesota Timberwolves comparable to many of the league's greatest players.
After leading the SEC in scoring, being the nation's top-scoring freshman and earning 2020 SEC Freshman of the Year honors, Edwards was a unanimous selection to the NBA's All-Rookie team in 2021. He was named the Western Conference Rookie of the Month three times (March, April, May) and tallied a rookie-leading and Timberwolves rookie record 36 20+ point games. Edwards erupted for a career-high 42 points in the Timberwolves' victory in Phoenix on March 18 to become the first Timberwolves rookie to score 40+ points in a game. At 19 years and 225 days old, Edwards became the third-youngest player in NBA history to score 40+ points behind LeBron James (2003-04, 19y-88d) and Kevin Durant (2007-08, 19y-200d).
"I like coming in and having a lot of weight on my shoulders and performing at the highest level that I can," Edwards said during the Timberwolves' media day. "I put a lot of time in this summer in the gym so I'm ready for it. (During the offseason I've work on) shooting the ball. Anything with shooting – catch and shoot, off the dribble, step backs, DHOs. Whatever you call shooting, that's what I was working on. I'm ready for whatever. This is just my second year. I'm still learning. I don't know a lot, really. All I know is grab a ball, go out there and play and have fun. Whatever there is for me to learn, I'm ready."
In addition, the following Bulldogs have signed overseas contracts and have begun or will begin their seasons in the coming weeks.
• Nemanja "Nemi" Djurisic - Estudiantes in Spanish LEB Gold
• John Florveus – CB Prat Juventud in Spanish LEB Gold
• J.J. Frazier - Samsun BSB Anakent in Turkish TBL
• Rayshaun Hammonds - VEF Riga in Latvia LBL
• Jordan Harris - Glasgow Rocks in British BBL
• Travis Leslie - Leones de Ponce in Puerto Rican BSN
• Yante Maten - Wonju DB Promy Korean KBL
• Derek Ogbeide - PAOK in Greek A1 league
• Gerald Robinson - NINERS Chemnitz in German BBL
• Trey Thompkins - Real Madrid in Spanish Liga Endesa
• Dustin Ware - MZT Skopje in North Macedonia Prva League
• Terrance Woodbury - Kagawa FA in Japanese B2 League
Updates on Georgia players competing in international leagues can be found at eurobasket.com and searching by the country or player's name.
Georgia Men's Basketball Media Availability - Kanon Catchings
Monday, September 29
Georgia Men's Basketball Media Availability - Somtochukwu "Somto" Cyril
Monday, September 29
Georgia Men's Basketball Media Availability - Marcus "Smurf" Millender
Monday, September 22
Georgia Men's Basketball Media Availability - Jeremiah Wilkinson
Monday, September 22