Miami heat players biography

American basketball player (born 1988)

This item is about the basketball player. Infer the NASCAR driver, see Kevin Affection (racing driver).

Kevin Clergyman Love (born September 7, 1988) interest an American professional basketball player cause the Miami Heat of the Tribal Basketball Association (NBA). He is fine five-time All-Star and a two-time contributor of the All-NBA Second Team, win an NBA championship with the President Cavaliers in 2016. He was as well a member of the gold medal-winning United States national team at interpretation 2010 FIBA World Championship and interpretation 2012 Summer Olympics. In 2011, Prize won the NBA Most Improved Entertainer Award and led the league lure rebounding.

The son of former NBA player Stan Love, Love was deft top-ranked prospect out of Lake Oswego High School in Oregon. He niminy-piminy one season of college basketball redundant the UCLA Bruins and led decency team to a Final Four construct in the 2008NCAA Tournament. Love was named a consensus First Team All-American and was voted player of rendering year in the Pac-12 Conference. Agreed elected to forgo his remaining years of college eligibility and entered the 2008 NBA draft. He was taken fifth overall by the City Grizzlies, and was traded to loftiness Minnesota Timberwolves on draft night sustenance the third overall selection, O. Tabulate. Mayo, in an eight-player deal. Sooner than the 2010–11 season, Love established nobility longest streak for consecutive games tape double figures in points and rebounds since the ABA–NBA merger.^[1]

After six seasons with Minnesota, Love was traded resemble the Cavaliers in 2014. After manufacture four straight NBA Finals with righteousness team and winning a championship, Like suffered multiple injuries from 2018 castigate 2021. He slotted into a virginity role in 2021–22 and finished by the same token runner-up for the Sixth Man additional the Year award. However, reduced appearance time the following season led Like to reach a contract buyout personally with the Cavaliers. After nine seasons with Cleveland, he joined Miami monitor February 2023, where he reached coronet fifth NBA Finals in as haunt playoff appearances.

Early life

Love was aboriginal on September 7, 1988, in Santa Monica, California, the second of connect children to Karen and Stan Love.^[2] He grew up in Lake Oswego, Oregon, where he was childhood companions and Little League teammates with boy future NBA star Klay Thompson.^[3] Devotion played basketball from his earliest days;^[4] as a child, he would employ his bounce passes with a artificial box and study tapes of Wes Unseld.^[5] His father Stan, a plague NBA big man who was almighty adept shooter, had his son materialize his outside shooting and ballhandling skills.^[6]

Love played high school basketball for say publicly Lake Oswego Lakers.^[7] In his intermediate season, he averaged 25.3 points, 15.4 rebounds, and 3.7 assists per affair, leading the Lakers to the 2005 state championship game, where they gone to Jesuit High School.^[8][9] The mass summer, Nike removed him from tight Portland Elite Legends AAU team sustenance he chose to participate in representation Reebok ABCD Camp against other peak recruits.^[10] He went on to ground for the Southern California All-Stars, segment the team compile a 46–0 not to be disclosed while garnering three MVP awards.^[8] Orders his junior year, he averaged 28 points, 16.1 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game as Lake Oswego correlative to the state championship game, that time winning behind Love's 24 entrance and 9 rebounds.^[9] In his highflying season, he averaged 33.9 points, 17.0 rebounds, and 4 assists per game.^[8][11] Lake Oswego made their third useful trip to the state championship business, losing in a rematch of blue blood the gentry prior year's final to South Town High School and Love's rival Kyle Singler despite 37 points from Love.^[8][12] At the conclusion of the period, Love was named the Gatorade Stable Male Athlete of the Year.^[2] Significant was also a first-team Parade All-American. He finished his high school employment as the all-time leading scorer seep out Oregon boys' basketball history, with 2,628 points.^[8]

College career

In July 2006, Love by word of mouth committed to play college basketball milk UCLA.^[13] He had also considered scene for North Carolina.^[10][14][15] Before the 2007–08 season, he received permission from Walt Hazzard to wear number 42 contribution the Bruins even though the institution had retired the number for Hazzard in 1996.^[16] After arriving at UCLA, Love regularly sought out retired Bruins legends Bill Walton and John Sore for advice.^[17] His decision to gambol for UCLA brought anger from fans of Oregon, his father's alma mummy, where it was expected Love would play.^[4] Prior to a game power Oregon, Ducks fans obtained Love's stall phone number and left obscene messages as well as death threats; greatness fans also subjected Love's family within spitting distance obscenities and threw garbage at them during the game. This event, administer with similar incidents directed at different players, prompted a discussion of whether one likes it abuse by college basketball fans even-handed becoming too extreme.^[18][19]

In the 2008 Pacific-10 Conference men's basketball tournament, the Bruins defeated the USC Trojans, featuring Inside story. J. Mayo, in the semi-finals. Both Mayo and Love were nominated chastise the All-Pac-10 tournament team. Later, Liking guided UCLA to the regular stint Pac-10 conference championship, the conference game championship, and a No. 1 failure in the 2008 NCAA Men's Breaking up I Basketball Tournament. Love helped description Bruins to the Final Four star as the tournament, where they lost be given the Memphis Tigers, whose season famous tournament appearance, in turn, were closest vacated. At the end of description 2007–08 regular season, Love was given name consensus first-team All-American, Pac-10 Player a range of the Year, All-Pac-10, and Pac-10 Entrant of the Year. He led nobility Bruins with 17.5 ppg, 10.6 rpg, and 23 double-doubles.^[20]

Professional career

Minnesota Timberwolves (2008–2014)

Rookie season (2008–2009)

In a press conference country April 17, 2008, Love announced monarch intention to leave UCLA to go on board the 2008 NBA draft.^[21] He was taken fifth overall by the Metropolis Grizzlies, immediately after his teammate shakeup UCLA, Russell Westbrook, who was designated by the Seattle SuperSonics. Following high-mindedness draft, Love was traded, along have under surveillance Mike Miller, Brian Cardinal, and Jason Collins to the Minnesota Timberwolves, lay into the third overall pick O. Detail. Mayo, Antoine Walker, Marko Jarić pivotal Greg Buckner going to the Grizzlies.^[22][23] Love went on to play stem the 2008 NBA Summer League sit led all players in rebounding.^[24]

In reward NBA debut on October 29, Tenderness came off the bench to come up with 12 points and nine rebounds make happen a 98–96 win over the Sacramento Kings.^[25] The Timberwolves lost 15 pencil in their first 19 games, prompting probity dismissal of head coach Randy Wittman.^[26] Timberwolves general managerKevin McHale assumed duties as head coach and they urbane a close relationship.^[27][28][29] Under McHale, illustriousness Timberwolves improved their play in Jan by going 10–4, with Love averaging a double-double.^[30] Love was not elite to the NBA All-Star Weekend Employ Challenge, to the surprise of rulership teammates and coaches.^[31][32] After the team's leading scorer Al Jefferson was sidelined for the rest of the stint with a torn ACL in February,^[33] Love's minutes increased, and he was named NBA Rookie of the Four weeks for March.^[34] Love finished the seasoned ninth in the league in rebounding, first among rookies, and ranked tertiary in total offensive rebounds. Love further led all first-years with 29 double-doubles, the most by a Timberwolves contract in franchise history. He also row on row first in the league in unsavoury rebound percentage, becoming the first recruit to lead the league since Mohammedan Olajuwon in 1984–85. Love was labelled to the 2009 NBA All-Rookie Specially Team and finished sixth in Starter of the Year voting.^[35]

Sophomore season (2009–2010)

In the off-season, Love was invited discover participate in the USA National Group mini-camp that was conducted from July 22 to 25 in Las Vegas.^[36][37] Love also generated attention from circlet Twitter account when he broke grandeur story that Kevin McHale would sound return to coach the Timberwolves fail to appreciate the 2009–2010 season.^[38]

Love began the edible on the injured list when, check a pre-season game on October 16, 2009, against the Chicago Bulls, agreed broke the fourth metacarpal in her highness left hand by banging it combat the elbow of teammate Oleksiy Pecherov.^[39] Following surgery, Love missed the gain victory 18 games of the season. Illegal returned against the New Orleans Hornets on December 4, 2009, and obliged immediate impact for the Timberwolves, who were struggling out of the door with a 2–16 record.^[40][41]

Love was select to play in NBA All-Star Weekend Rookie Challenge.^[42][43] He finished the stretch ranked as the NBA's best rebounder per 48 minutes (18.4), besting Dwight Howard (18.3) and Marcus Camby (18.1).^[44] He attempted nearly two three-point earth goals per game, which accounted suffer privation 16 percent of his overall policy goal attempts, an increase over sovereignty rookie rate of 3 percent.^[6][45]

First All-Star and Most Improved Player (2010–2011)

The Timberwolves' trade of Jefferson before the 2010–11 NBA season was expected to play in in more playing time for Passion. However, he averaged 28 minutes the whole time the first nine games, exceeding 30 minutes only twice. Chris Mannix pleasant wrote that many speculated there was a rift between coach Kurt Rambis and Love.^[44] In a home business against the New York Knicks routine November 12, 2010, Love became say publicly 19th player to record a "30–30" game, when he recorded 31 in turn along with a career-high 31 rebounds.^[46] His 31 rebounds set a Timberwolves franchise record and were also nobility most by a player in spruce NBA game since Charles Barkley record 33 rebounds in a game quickwitted 1996.^[47] Love became the first trouper to record a 30–30 game thanks to Moses Malone in 1982.^[48] Love scored a career-high 43 points and difficult 17 rebounds on December 18 in out 115–113 loss to the Denver Nuggets.^[49] On February 4, 2011, Love was selected by Commissioner David Stern elect his first NBA All-Star Game gorilla replacement for the injured Yao Phoney. The day before, Love was whimper selected as an All-Star as a-ok reserve although averaging 21.4 points, simple league-best 15.5 rebounds, shooting 43.9 proportionality from 3-point range, and having 34 straight double-doubles for the 11–37 Timberwolves.^[50][51][52] On February 8, Love set grand team record (previously held by Kevin Garnett) with his 38th consecutive double-double after scoring 20 points and lp 14 rebounds in the Timberwolves' 112–108 win over the Houston Rockets.^[53] Do something scored 37 points and had 23 rebounds on February 27 in a 126–123 win over the Golden State Warriors. It was his fourth 30-point, 20-rebound game of the season, and Adore went 18 for 23 from blue blood the gentry free throw line to tie Minnesota's team records for made and attempted free throws.^[54] On March 13, Love's consecutive double-double streak ended at 53 games in a loss to rectitude Golden State Warriors.^[55] It was nobleness longest streak since the ABA–NBA coalescence in 1976,^[1] surpassing Malone's 51-game seam from 1979 to 1980.^[56][57] Love was two short of Elvin Hayes's bar of 55 consecutive double-doubles set set a date for the 1973–74 season.^[55] According to honourableness Elias Sports Bureau, Wilt Chamberlain holds the record with 227 consecutive double-doubles from 1964 to 1967. The NBA does not recognize the double-double kind an official statistic.^[58][59] Love suffered boss strained left groin on March 20 against Sacramento.^[60] He missed the closing six games and nine of decency last 11 games of the edible due to the injury.^[61][62]

Love led integrity NBA in rebounding, averaging 15.2 per game.^[61] He won the NBA Most More safely a improved Player Award after increasing his in sequence per game by 44 percent duct his rebounds per game by 38 percent over his previous season. Attachment established career highs in rebounding, attain (20.2), assists (2.5), double-doubles (64), a great deal goal percentage (.470), free throw ingenious (.850), and minutes played (35.8). Settle down became the first player to numerous at least 20 points and 15 rebounds in a season since Student in the 1982–83 season.^[63] While amassing double-doubles, a statistical hallmark of traditional self-government forwards, Love was also evolving bite-mark a stretch four, making a career-high 41.7 percent of his 3's, determine upping his three-point attempts to mock three per game.^[63][64] He emerged rightfully the new face of the vote since Garnett was traded from magnanimity Timberwolves to the Boston Celtics bear hug 2007.^[65] In 2010–11, Love's No. 42 was the Wolves' top-selling jersey; popular were comparable to Kevin Garnett's just as he was in his prime.^[66]

First All-NBA selection (2011–2012)

This was Love's contract spell 1. He had stated that he needed to be the Timberwolves' "designated player" for a five-year deal ^[67] cloth the offseason (a designated player evocation must be made prior to honourableness final year qualifying offer), but no problem was denied this contract by say publicly Timberwolves.^[68] Contract negotiations became tense, respected to an incident where David Architect (team GM) "marched" into the arrangement training room and "thrust [...] well-organized contract offer sheet into his hands". Love responded, "I'm not the pick your way to always follow professional protocol – but I do know what put is, even at 24 years old".^[68] They eventually settled on four length of existence with a player option for Enjoy to opt out after the tertiary year.^[69] The four-year contract extension property up to $62 million was finally undisputed to, and signed, on January 25, allowing Love to become an uncircumscribed free agent as early as 2015. Love has stated that he matt-up very strongly that he should have to one`s name had a five-year designated player extent, and would have accepted the maintain, had it been offered to him.^[70]

Love followed up this new contract development the subsequent night with a 31-point performance in a win over righteousness Dallas Mavericks.^[71] In January 2012, Affection scored 30 points in three succeeding games for the first time person of little consequence his career.^[72] He began the seasoned recording 15 straight double-doubles, the pull it off player to do so since Muhammedan Olajuwon in the beginning of say publicly 1992–93 NBA season.^[72] On January 20, Love made a three-point buzzer fly-whisk to defeat the Los Angeles Shear.

On February 6, Love was disposed a two-game suspension for stepping best choice the face of Houston's Luis Scola.^[73] After the February 4 game, Prize had said, "I mean, he integument down after the play. He impartial kind of laid there and... Unrestrained just happened to be there. Hilarious had nowhere to go. I got kind of tripped up and Hysterical just had nowhere to step. Why not? was right there... and it example to be his face."^[71] On Feb 25, Love participated in the Three-Point Contest and defeated Kevin Durant etch the final tie-breaking round to take off the contest. Love scored a edible high 42 points in a fabricate over the Portland Trail Blazers array March 3.^[74] Love set a privilege record for most games scoring overlay 30 points in a season concealment March 12 in a victory jurisdiction the Phoenix Suns.^[75][76] He also locked away a career-high 51 points in graceful 149–140 double overtime loss to significance Oklahoma City Thunder. The following operation, Love erupted for 30 points trip grabbed 21 rebounds in a net over the Denver Nuggets.^[77] For depiction season, Love was named to honesty All-NBA second team and finished ordinal in MVP voting.^[78] In the offseason, Love voiced frustration with Minnesota aspire not being a playoff team. Influence Timberwolves finished with the Western Conference's fourth-worst record at 26–40, which was still the franchise's most wins by reason of the 2006–07 season.^[67][79]

Injury (2012–2013)

On October 17, 2012, it was reported that Warmth would miss six to eight weeks after breaking the third and district metacarpals on his right (shooting) run during a morning workout.^[80] Love astounded fans by returning to the Wolves on November 21, just five weeks after sustaining the injury.^[81] He mincing 35 minutes and scored 34 in order while grabbing 14 rebounds against loftiness Denver Nuggets. In December, Love would score 36 points against the City Cavaliers, yet he continued to utterance his frustration with the team's anterior office.^[82]

On January 3, 2013, Love refractured his shooting hand in a distraction against the Denver Nuggets. It was announced by the Timberwolves that Love's injury would require surgery and type was expected to miss an add-on eight to ten weeks of about time.^[83] Prior to the second breach, Love was shooting just 21.7 proportion on three-pointers and a career-low 35 percent from the field, leading cruel to speculate that he had correlative too quickly from his original injury.^[84][85] Love himself admitted that the run remained an issue throughout the opportunity ripe, saying "It's just the hand proforma so idle, having to strengthen on benefit. Getting the ball to feel rectify in my hand has been specified a struggle since getting back arranged the court a couple weeks ago."^[86]

Final year in Minnesota (2013–2014)

On February 22, 2014, Love recorded his first activity triple double with 37 points, 12 rebounds, and a career-high 10 assists in a 121–104 win over picture Utah Jazz.^[87][88] On March 9, Attraction, with a 3-pointer midway through greatness third quarter of Minnesota's 104–111 disappearance to the Raptors, broke the Timberwolves' franchise record for 3-pointers in marvellous season. With that make (143), subside passed Rashad McCants' record of 142 in the 2007–08 season.^[89] On Hoof it 28, he recorded his second existence triple double with 22 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists in dexterous 143–107 win over the Los Angeles Lakers.^[90] On April 2, 2014, Warmth recorded his third career triple without beating about the bush with 24 points, 16 rebounds stomach 10 assists in a 102–88 net over the Memphis Grizzlies.^[91] Love treat an NBA record in 2013–14, suitable the first player in NBA portrayal to record 2,000 points, 900 rebounds and 100 3-pointers in a solitary season.^[92] He was named to rendering All-NBA Second Team for the next time in his career.^[93][94]

Cleveland Cavaliers (2014–2023)

Big Three formation and first playoff (2014–2015)

On August 23, 2014, the Timberwolves traded Love to the Cleveland Cavaliers extract a three-team trade. The Timberwolves agreed Andrew Wiggins and Anthony Bennett get round Cleveland, and Thaddeus Young from rendering Philadelphia 76ers, while the Philadelphia 76ers received Luc Mbah a Moute very last Alexey Shved from Minnesota and a-okay 2015 first-round draft pick from Cleveland.^[95][96] On February 8, 2015, Love scored a season-high 32 points on 11-of-18 shooting in a 120–105 win manipulation the Los Angeles Lakers.^[97] On Feb 24, he scored 24 points uncouth eight three-pointers, tying his career outshine, as he helped the Cavaliers get the better of the Detroit Pistons, 102–93.^[98]

Love helped blue blood the gentry Cavaliers win 34 of their furthest back 43 games to finish the wonted season as the No. 2 ovule in the Eastern Conference with organized 53–29 overall record.^[99] In his greatest career playoff game on April 19, Love recorded 19 points and 12 rebounds in a 113–100 win date the Boston Celtics in Game 1 of their first-round playoff match-up.^[100] President swept the series 4–0, but Attachment missed the remainder of the playoffs after he dislocated his left verge in the first quarter of Sport 4 when he got tangled seam the Celtics' Kelly Olynyk while conflict for a loose ball. Love entitled it a "bush-league play", while Olynyk said he would "never intentionally injury someone."^[101][102] The league ruled that Olynyk had "yanked Love's arm down", current suspended Olynyk for one game.^[103] Warmth underwent surgery to repair his margin and the team said he would need four to six months make ill recover.^[101] Without Love, the Cavaliers reached the 2015 NBA Finals but were defeated by the Golden State Warriors in six games. On June 24, 2015, Love opted out of high-mindedness final year of his contract, quality $16.7 million in 2015–16, to answer to free agency.^[104]

NBA championship (2015–2016)

On July 9, 2015, Love re-signed with birth Cavaliers.^[105] On November 23, 2015, proscribed scored 27 of his season-high 34 points in the first half lose the Cavaliers' 117–103 win over character Orlando Magic.^[106] On January 29, 2016, he had his best game because November 23, scoring 29 points dead flat 9-of-19 shooting in a 114–106 conquer over the Detroit Pistons. That sport also marked the first time vagabond season that Love, LeBron James additional Kyrie Irving each reached 20 in order in a game.^[107]

The Cavaliers finished depiction regular season as the first deterioration in the Eastern Conference with simple 57–25 record. In the first rule out of the playoffs, the Cavaliers deliberate the eighth-seeded Detroit Pistons, and doubtful a Game 1 win on Apr 17, Love recorded playoff career highs with 28 points and 13 rebounds.^[108] Love helped the Cavaliers advance plunder to the Eastern Conference Finals swivel they faced the Toronto Raptors. Explicit struggled in Games 3 and 4 of the series, scoring just 15 total points, before bouncing back sky Games 5 and 6 to compliant the Cavaliers defeat the Raptors 4–2.^[109] The win advanced them through add up the NBA Finals, where they naive the defending champion Golden State Warriors. Love's struggles in the NBA Finals were well documented. After recording 17 points and 13 rebounds in neat Game 1 loss, a concussion appreciated in Game 2 forced him nominate miss Game 3. His return clod Game 4 saw him come bottleneck the bench to score 11 mark, but with a 108–97 loss, excellence Cavaliers fell behind 3–1 in magnanimity series. Game 5 saw Love reinstate to the starting line-up, but disdain playing 33 minutes, he managed valid two points as the Cavaliers token a Game 6 with a 112–97 win. Game 6 also saw Prize struggle, but the Cavaliers managed far-out 115–101 win to force a Diversion 7. The Cavaliers won Games 5 and 6 with Love contributing crabby nine total points on 2-of-8 shooting.^[110] With the series tied a 3–3, Love managed 9 points and 14 rebounds in Game 7 to expenditure the Cavaliers win the series 4–3, as they became the first line-up to rally from a 3–1 finals deficit, beating the Warriors 93–89 middle Game 7 to end a 52-year major sports championship drought in Cleveland.^[111] Many credited Love's defense on alliance MVP Stephen Curry in the terminating minutes of Game 7 as a- main contributor to Cleveland sealing nobility win late in the championship definite victory.^[112]

Coming up short (2016–2018)

On October 25, 2016, after receiving his first title ring before the season opener, Attraction recorded 23 points and 12 rebounds in a 117–88 win over probity New York Knicks.^[113] On November 3, he scored a then season-high 26 points in a 128–122 win throng the Boston Celtics, helping the Cavaliers go 5–0 for the first put on ice since 1976–77 when they started 8–0.^[114] On November 23, he scored 40 points, including an NBA-record 34 pressure the first quarter, to help primacy Cavaliers defeat the Portland Trail Blazers 137–125. His 34 first-quarter points were the second most all-time in efficient quarter; Klay Thompson of the Joyous State Warriors set the record pocketsized 37 in the third quarter go on January 23, 2015.^[115] Five days ulterior, he was named Eastern Conference Participant of the Week for games non-natural Monday, November 21 through Sunday, Nov 27. Love led the Cavaliers tonguelash a 3–0 week behind an East-leading 30.7 points per game.^[116] On Dec 25, he scored 20 points make out 109–108 win over the Warriors, cut his 10,000th career point in probity process.^[117]

On January 26, 2017, Love was named an Eastern Conference All-Star keep for the 2017 NBA All-Star Game.^[118] However, on February 14, 2017, inaccuracy underwent arthroscopic surgery to remove regular loose body from his left lap, and was subsequently ruled out be a symbol of approximately six weeks, thus missing nobility All-Star Game.^[119] On March 16, subside played his first game for illustriousness Cavaliers since February 11 and confidential 10 points and nine rebounds current 19 minutes in a 91–83 multiply by two over the Utah Jazz.^[120]

In Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals averse the Boston Celtics on May 17, Love scored a playoff career-high 32 points and had 12 rebounds want help the Cavaliers improve to 9–0 in the first three rounds foothold the playoffs, defeating the Celtics 117–104.^[121] With 15 points in Game 5 of the series, Love helped representation Cavaliers defeat the Celtics 135–102 survive claim their third straight Eastern Word title and a return trip attack the NBA Finals.^[122] After going store 3–0 in the 2017 NBA Finals, Love made six 3-pointers and challenging 23 points in Game 4 in close proximity help Cleveland extend the series squeeze avoid a sweep with a 137–116 win over the Warriors.^[123] The Cavaliers went on to lose to authority Warriors in Game 5, thus failure the series 4–1.^[124][125]

In the Cavaliers' period opener on October 17, 2017, Tenderness scored 15 points in a 102–99 win over the Boston Celtics. Grace hit a critical 3-pointer with 46.3 seconds left to put Cleveland rub 102–98.^[126] On November 7, 2017, elegance had a then season-best game obey 32 points and 16 rebounds valve a 124–119 win over the Metropolis Bucks.^[127] On November 28, 2017, purify scored 32 of his 38 evidence in the first half of leadership Cavaliers' 108–97 win over the Algonquian Heat. He scored 22 points play in the first quarter and finished 10 of 16 from the field view 14 of 17 on free throws.^[128] On December 25, 2017, he esoteric a game-high 31 points and unembellished season-best 18 rebounds in a 99–92 loss to the Golden State Warriors.^[129] On January 30, 2018, Love assess the Cavaliers' game against the City Pistons with a fracture in climax left hand.^[130] He missed six weeks and 21 games with the gash, returning to action on March 19 against the Bucks. He scored 18 points in 25 minutes in pure 124–117 win.^[131] Two days later, sharptasting recorded 23 points and 12 rebounds in a 132–129 win over significance Toronto Raptors. He knocked down her majesty 1,000th career 3-pointer during the game.^[132] On April 1, 2018, he prerecorded his 400th career double-double with 13 points and 13 rebounds in wonderful 98–87 win over the Dallas Mavericks.^[133] In Game 2 of the Cavaliers' second-round playoff series against the Raptors, Love had his best game register the postseason with 31 points gain 11 rebounds in a 128–110 increase twofold, helping Cleveland take a 2–0 celeb in the series. Love missed analogous his career playoff high by twin point.^[134] In Game 4 against Toronto, Love scored 23 points in deft 128–93 series-clinching win. During the play, Love became the fourth player calculate Cleveland history with 500 career playoff rebounds, joining LeBron James, Tristan Archaeologist and Zydrunas Ilgauskas.^[135] In Game 1 of the NBA Finals, Love taped 21 points and 13 rebounds spontaneous a 124–114 overtime loss to blue blood the gentry Warriors.^[136] The Cavaliers went on connected with lose the series in four boisterousness.

Injury-plagued years (2018–2021)

In the aftermath classic LeBron James' departure in free intervention to the Los Angeles Lakers, distinction Cavaliers aggressively pushed to secure Passion for the long term.^[137] On July 24, 2018, Love signed a four-year, $120 million extension with the Cavaliers.^[137][138] He appeared in the first three games of the regular season a while ago being sidelined with an injured assess foot.^[139] On November 2, Love locked away surgery to rectify a painful copious toe injury on his left foot.^[140] The injury had bothered him owing to the preseason opener and affected sovereignty ability to walk.^[141] He was in the early stages ruled out for six weeks, nevertheless that was later pushed back sound out the new year.^[141] Love returned on two legs action on February 8, 2019, provision missing 50 games. He started put up with played the first six minutes dispute the Washington Wizards, scoring four statistics, before not returning to the game.^[142] On February 23, he scored straighten up season-high 32 points in a 112–107 win over the Memphis Grizzlies.^[143] Supplement the season, Love attempted 6.7 three-point shots per game, accounting for 52% of his field-goal attempts.^[6]

In 2019–20, Adore clashed with new Cleveland head guru John Beilein, who was replaced mid-season by J. B. Bickerstaff. Love abstruse five 30-point games during the time, finishing with averages of 17.6 mark on 45% shooting and 37.4% reject 3-point range while adding 9.8 rebounds and 3.2 assists.^[144]

In the first preseason game of 2020–21, Love suffered splendid calf injury, which caused him be relevant to miss the regular season opener. Without fear returned in the second game, on the other hand he reaggravated the injury in loftiness third game and was expected hide be sidelined 3–4 weeks.^[145] On Can 12, 2021, Love logged his 5th double-double of the season with systematic season-high 30 points and 14 rebounds in a 102–94 win over illustriousness Boston Celtics, ending the Cavaliers' 11-game losing streak.^[146][147]

Sixth Man of the Yr runner-up and buyout (2021–2023)

In 2021–22, Tenderness became a reserve for the supreme time since early in his career.^[148] Against the Atlanta Hawks on Dec 31, 2021, he had 35 evidence on 10-for-18 shooting, including a 7-for-14 on 3-pointers, for his highest-scoring project in over four seasons.^[149] He was the runner-up for the NBA Onesixth Man of the Year Award end averaging 13.6 points, 7.2 rebounds tube 2.2 assists.^[150][151]

On February 18, 2023, Cherish and the Cavaliers officially agreed snip a contract buyout, making him natty free agent. He averaged 8.5 grade, 6.8 rebounds, and 1.9 assists earlier the buyout with the team.^[152]

After language with the Miami Heat after honourableness game, Love was the last competitor from the 2015-16 championship team even on the roster.^[153] however, Tristian Archaeologist, a member of said team, correlative to the Cavaliers months later, on the contrary resigned in September 2024.

Miami Fiery (2023–present)

On February 20, 2023, Love individualized with the Miami Heat.^[154] On Feb 24, Love made his Heat inauguration going scoreless and putting up echelon rebounds in a 128–99 loss be introduced to the Milwaukee Bucks.^[155] With the Earnestness, Love reached his fifth NBA Finals in just his fifth playoff wait. However, the Heat went on disturb lose the Finals in 5 revelry to the Denver Nuggets.^[156]

On July 6, 2023, Love re-signed with the Heat.^[157] On July 6, 2024, he regulate re-signed with Miami.^[158]

National team career

Love was a member of the United States national team that won the funds medal at the 2010 FIBA Faux Championship. Love made the 2012 Athletics team on July 7, 2012.^[159] Excellence team finished undefeated, winning the fortune medal over runners-up Spain.

Mired tear unresolved trade talks between Minnesota swallow other NBA teams, Love withdrew actually from the 2014 FIBA Basketball Universe Cup (formerly World Championship) team.^[160] Oversight was also selected for the 2020 Olympic team in Tokyo, but withdrew after the third exhibition game, stating that he was not fully healthier from the right calf injury wind sidelined him for much of goodness 2020–21 season.^[161]

Career statistics

NBA

Regular season

Play-in

Playoffs

College

Personal life

Love's uncle, Microphone, is a founding member of Say publicly Beach Boys and brother of Love's father, Stan. Mike and Stan's cousins include the brothers Brian Wilson (the Beach Boys' mastermind), Carl Wilson, skull Dennis Wilson. Love's aunt, Kathleen Songster Hearst, was an accomplished triathlete. Soil has an older brother, Collin, scold a younger sister, Emily.^[8] His conformity name, Wesley, is in honor rigidity Wes Unseld, the former Washington Bullets center and the Loves' family friend.^[162]

Love had been dating Canadian model Kate Bock for "nearly five years"^[163][164] formerly getting engaged on January 31, 2021.^[165] They married on June 25, 2022, at the New York Public Depository in New York City.^[166] In June 2023, Bock gave birth to leadership couple's first child, during the 2023 NBA Finals.^[167]

In March 2018, in reaction to DeMar DeRozan's public discussion retard his struggles with depression, Love decipher that he had been seeing wonderful therapist for several months following unmixed panic attack during a game family unit November 2017. In a first-person circumstance in The Players' Tribune in Foot it 2018 entitled, "Everyone Is Going Strive Something", Love wrote: "Mental health go over the main points an invisible thing, but it touches all of us at some holder or another."^[168] It continued: "I crave to remind you that you're classify weird or different for sharing what you're going through."^{[168][169][170]}

In August 2018, Attraction continued his advocacy for mental advantage awareness, discussing his family's history elect depression, along with his own struggles with anxiety, rage, and "dark times" where he would hide in fulfil room and not talk to anyone.^[171] Love committed to forming a establish focusing on mental health, particularly put young boys, adding that he believes he's "found [his] life's work."^[172]

In 2023, Love announced his plan to come to Cleveland before retiring stating operate is "definitely open to coming asseverate and retiring" with the Cavaliers.^[173]

Philanthropy

In 2009, Love became the first among NBA players to join the Hoops contribution St. Jude charity program benefitting say publicly St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, pinpoint working with the hospital as terminate of the league's "Rookie Relief" group outreach program in his first term in the league.^[174]

In 2018, he customary the Kevin Love Fund to replenish tools and help for people stunt improve their physical and emotional rest, with the goal of assisting excellent than 1 billion people over representation next five years.^[175] Early beneficiaries focus two programs to empower high faculty students to make healthy choices bear the UCLA Athletics Department. On Go by shanks`s pony 12, 2020, Love's fund gave $100,000 to the support staff of Rise Mortgage FieldHouse, where the Cleveland Cavaliers play, who were unable to outmoded during the 2020 coronavirus pandemic.^[176] Unquestionable was joined by Cavaliers center Andre Drummond, who donated an additional $60,000.^[177]

On April 26, 2020, The Kevin Cherish Fund sent a truckload of lunches to the staff of the City Clinic's Medical Intensive Care Unit boss its COVID-19 testing sites, and exposed by FaceTime to personally thank honourableness healthcare workers there.^[178] On June 22, 2020, he announced that his reservoir was pledging $500,000, matched by blue blood the gentry UCLA Centennial Term Chair Match, allot establish the Kevin Love Fund Seat in UCLA's psychology department.^[179] The $1 million investment will support a egghead at one of the top-ranked thinking departments in the United States whose work helps diagnose, prevent, treat courier destigmatize anxiety and depression.

Separately, Warmth donated to UCLA Athletics what was reported by the Orange County Catalogue to be $1 million in Sep 2016, matching a gift by person NBA star and UCLA alumnus Astronomer Westbrook.^[180] These and other gifts funded the construction of the Mo Ostin Basketball Center on UCLA's Westwood college.

Endorsements and investments

In 2011, Love undiluted a 6-year endorsement contract with distinction Chinese shoe company 361 Degrees.^[181]

In 2012, Love became an investor in ethics lifestyle website 12Society.^[182]

In 2016, Love became the new style ambassador and motivation model for Banana Republic.^[183]

Media appearances

On put in order video game, Love appeared on nobility front cover of NCAA Basketball 09 in 2009.^[184]

On television, he appeared similarly himself on the Disney Channel fuss The Suite Life on Deck lasting the season 3 episode "Twister: Height 1" along with Dwight Howard focus on Deron Williams.^[185] He appeared in rendering HBO television series Entourage in hang over seventh-season finale "Lose Yourself".^[186]

On film, subside was one of the stars overlook the feature length, 2008 documentary Gunnin' for That No. 1 Spot.^[187] Courier he was also in the accordingly 2012 documentary My Life As Iron out NBA Rookie.^[188]

Online, he was part remember an internet advertising campaign in 2012 by PepsiCo for Pepsi Max ditch featured the character "Uncle Drew" mannered by Love's future NBA teammate Kyrie Irving. It was wildly popular, give orders to reported to be the second virtually watched ad on YouTube that collection and among the 50 most-viewed viral videos worldwide, garnering more than 22 million views.^[189] PepsiCo and its hype agency Davie Brown Entertainment quickly trilled out another commercial later that best, "Uncle Drew: Chapter 2", this period co-starring Kevin Love.^[190] These and twosome more commercials led to the histrionic movie Uncle Drew in 2018 (Love was not part of that production).

Awards and honors

NBA

USA Basketball

NCAA

• 2008 First Lineup All-American
• 2008 Pac-10 Player of the Year
• UCLA Hall of Fame (class of 2020)

High School

ESPY Awards

Local

• 2021 Greater Cleveland Sports Glory - Humanitarian of the Year^[191]

See also

References