As mentioned in the first “NBA Drip” article, a players’ arena entrance has become a part of experiencing the full ambiance of an NBA game. These pre-game fits showcase the personalities behind the players and give them the opportunity to dress up their drip game.
This month, I have kept a close eye on these league fits and am very eager to share with you January’s Dripper of the Month, the Los Angeles Lakers very own, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (KCP). In the 2013 NBA draft, KCP was chosen (round one, pick eight) by the Detroit Pistons and played four seasons with them until deciding to join the Lakers as a free agent in the 2017/2018 season.
KCP’s style off the court can be closely associated with his style of play on the court. I have broken apart three distinct ways in which his pregame drip has coincided with his in game action specifically this past month.
- The first way in which KCP’s pregame drip has connected with his game action is that they are both extremely versatile. Caldwell-Pope switches positions at the flip of a dime. One night he may be playing shooting guard and directed to guard smaller yet quicker players, and the next night be playing small forward and tasked to guard slightly larger-built/stronger players. KCP is unique in that he is equipped with the skills and tools he needs in order to switch it up each night depending on what the team needs. He is able to switch up positions on the court and still be extremely effective and an asset to the Lakers team. This is similar to his style because he is always switching it up (whether that be patterns, fabrics, etc.) yet making a fashion statement. Some days he is wearing more casual and impromptu outfits and other days he is seen in more uniform and put-together pregame fits. No matter what he wears, KCP’s array of clothing is one that always draws attention.
- The second attribute to KCP’s drip and game action is the element of surprise. He is a player in which you should expect the unexpected. His ability to hit big shots down the stretch is immaculate and the surprise comes in because Lebron and Anthony Davis are the two that are typically expected to do such. KCP also makes big plays on the defensive end of the game. The correlation between his surprise actions on court and in his fashion sense is that he puts together outfits that the average person typically would not pair together and somehow makes them look fresh. One big component is that he sticks to the fundamentals both on and off the court. He may surprise us with the pattern, color combination, and fabric choices, but he typically wears outfits that resemble one another in foundation (for example, he wears a lot of jeans and crew necks but the style choices he plays within that category are always surprising).
- The third and final way in which Kentavious Caldwell-Pope’s style of dressing and style of playing are similar is that within each, he is always ready. KCP’s style of play is one of which he is always on his toes, not physically, but mentally– always prepared. An example of this is when the Lakers receive a rebound and he takes off streaking down the court in an attempt to get an easy layup, and succeeds. When it comes to his drip, he is always ready for the camera to catch a peak. He always looks fresh no matter what he dresses in and his outfits are very appealing to the camera and to the crowd which is why KCP was decided to be the first Dripper of the Month.
Make sure to stay tuned for February’s Dripper of the Month–this new writing/media segment is one that you do not want to miss. The NBA drip game is no joke.
