University of Georgia Athletics
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Bulldogs Begin NBA Postseason Competition
April 11, 2023 | Men's Basketball
Edwards to face Lakers in play-in tournament on Tuesday
ATHENS, Ga. — Former Georgia Bulldogs Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Nicolas Claxton and Anthony Edwards all are set to compete in the NBA's postseason after each enjoyed standout regular-season campaigns.
Caldwell-Pope, who was the No. 8 overall pick in the 2013 NBA Draft following an SEC Player of the Year campaign as a sophomore with the Bulldogs, is in his first season with the Denver Nuggets. The Nuggets have earned the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference after finishing 53-29. Denver's first-round opponent will be determined during the NBA's Play-in Tourmament this week.
Caldwell-Pope averaged 10.8 points, 2.7 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.5 steals per game while shooting 46.2 percent from the floor, 42.3 percent from 3-point range and 82.4 percent from the line. He is making his fourth appearance with a third franchise in the Playoffs, including helping the L.A. Lakers capture the 2020 NBA Championship.
Claxton, the first pick of the second round – and No. 31 overall – during the 2019 NBA Draft, exploded during his fourth season with the Brooklyn Nets. Brooklyn is the No. 6 seed in the Eastern Conference and will take on third-seeded Philadelphia in the opening round beginning Saturday.
Claxton started all 76 games played during the 2022-23 campaign while connecting on a league-high 70.5 percent of his shots from the field. He averaged career-best tallies of 12.6 points, 9.2 rebounds and 2.5 blocks per game. He is a leading candidate for the NBA Defensive Player of the Year honors after ranking second in the NBA in blocked shots per game and being the only league player to record more than 150 blocks and 50 steals this season.
Edwards, the No. 1 overall pick of the 2020 NBA Draft after winning SEC Freshman of the Year honors at Georgia, continues to emerge as an NBA superstar with the Minnesota Timberwolves. Minnesota finished eighth in the Western Conference standings and will play the Lakers on Tuesday at 10:00 p.m. ET. The winner of that matchup will become the No. 7 seed for the Playoffs. The loser of that contest will face either Oklahoma City or New Orleans on Friday to decide the No. 8 seed.
Edwards was an All-Star this season, just the second former Bulldog to participate in the game and the first since Dominique Wilkins' final appearance in 1994. Edwards wrapped up the regular season ranked No. 23 among the NBA's scoring leaders (24.6 ppg) as well as No. 10 in steals (1.6 spg). He also averaged 5.8 rebounds and 4.4 assists. In January, Edwards became the youngest player in NBA history to reach 500 career 3-pointers.
Caldwell-Pope, who was the No. 8 overall pick in the 2013 NBA Draft following an SEC Player of the Year campaign as a sophomore with the Bulldogs, is in his first season with the Denver Nuggets. The Nuggets have earned the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference after finishing 53-29. Denver's first-round opponent will be determined during the NBA's Play-in Tourmament this week.
Caldwell-Pope averaged 10.8 points, 2.7 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.5 steals per game while shooting 46.2 percent from the floor, 42.3 percent from 3-point range and 82.4 percent from the line. He is making his fourth appearance with a third franchise in the Playoffs, including helping the L.A. Lakers capture the 2020 NBA Championship.
Claxton, the first pick of the second round – and No. 31 overall – during the 2019 NBA Draft, exploded during his fourth season with the Brooklyn Nets. Brooklyn is the No. 6 seed in the Eastern Conference and will take on third-seeded Philadelphia in the opening round beginning Saturday.
Claxton started all 76 games played during the 2022-23 campaign while connecting on a league-high 70.5 percent of his shots from the field. He averaged career-best tallies of 12.6 points, 9.2 rebounds and 2.5 blocks per game. He is a leading candidate for the NBA Defensive Player of the Year honors after ranking second in the NBA in blocked shots per game and being the only league player to record more than 150 blocks and 50 steals this season.
Edwards, the No. 1 overall pick of the 2020 NBA Draft after winning SEC Freshman of the Year honors at Georgia, continues to emerge as an NBA superstar with the Minnesota Timberwolves. Minnesota finished eighth in the Western Conference standings and will play the Lakers on Tuesday at 10:00 p.m. ET. The winner of that matchup will become the No. 7 seed for the Playoffs. The loser of that contest will face either Oklahoma City or New Orleans on Friday to decide the No. 8 seed.
Edwards was an All-Star this season, just the second former Bulldog to participate in the game and the first since Dominique Wilkins' final appearance in 1994. Edwards wrapped up the regular season ranked No. 23 among the NBA's scoring leaders (24.6 ppg) as well as No. 10 in steals (1.6 spg). He also averaged 5.8 rebounds and 4.4 assists. In January, Edwards became the youngest player in NBA history to reach 500 career 3-pointers.
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