Kevin Love found a match for him in Miami, where he arrived last February after being released by Cleveland, following eight and a half years of good and loyal service in Ohio.
In Florida, the interior found the ideal balance, on and off the court, still managing to contribute within a team that managed to reach the NBA finals. So many elements which encouraged him to continue the adventure this summer by signing a two-year contract for 7.8 million dollars.
“I weighed all the options and felt comfortable with the team and the franchise over time. It continued in the right direction. Naturally, I would have liked to find my rhythm, my fluidity and my sensations on the pitch more quickly. But I think my impact was felt both on and off the field. Just by being in the locker room, whether before or after the match, in training, I felt that I could have a major impact and help the cohesion of the team”, he told the Miami Herald. “I felt like it was a great place for me, and I really enjoyed being a part of this historic journey.” Obviously, it didn’t end the way we wanted and we have scores to settle. It clearly played a role in my return. I very quickly felt at home and developed a pretty special relationship with the fans, even in the short time I spent there. “.
Many players potentially affected
Thriving, Kevin Love intends to play his role as a veteran to the fullest. In particular, there will be the prospect of the Damian Lillard trade which will not be easy to manage, with few players being spared by a potential departure.
“In life, the unknown is scary or deceptive, and it’s something that can hurt people. As a veteran and a leader, it will be my role to have some influence, to discuss it with my teammates, to understand who can arrive and who can leave. Find common ground and see how I can get the best out of them,” he added. “You have to understand the fluidity of a season, understand that things can change very quickly during a campaign and in this profession. We have to make sure that the players are in their right mind, and that can concern any player on the team. Whether it’s Kyle Lowry, who is in his 18th season, Tyler Herro, who was injured and fueled rumors throughout the summer, Duncan Robinson, who went- returns to the team last year, of Nikola Jovic, who just won a silver medal and who played throughout the summer, or the younger ones.
We will therefore have to ensure every day that everyone is 100% mentally, ready to give everything for the team. This is also the life of a good veteran, less present on the field, but always useful to the group.
“There are so many different dynamics in the team and finding ways to get the best out of guys is going to be huge for me”continued Kevin Love. “Wearing different hats while being authentic and uncompromising is the best way to approach it and achieve it. It’s really a multi-layered question, but it’s the NBA. This kind of thing is constant and always fluid.”
| Kevin Love | Percentage | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | L.F. | Off | Def | Early | Pd | Party | Int | Bp | Ct | Pts |
| 2008-09 | MIN | 81 | 25 | 45.9 | 10.5 | 78.9 | 3.4 | 5.7 | 9.1 | 1.0 | 2.5 | 0.4 | 1.5 | 0.6 | 11.1 |
| 2009-10 | MIN | 60 | 29 | 45.0 | 33.0 | 81.5 | 3.8 | 7.2 | 11.0 | 2.3 | 2.3 | 0.7 | 2.0 | 0.4 | 14.0 |
| 2010-11 | MIN | 73 | 36 | 47.0 | 41.7 | 85.0 | 4.5 | 10.7 | 15.2 | 2.5 | 2.0 | 0.6 | 2.1 | 0.4 | 20.2 |
| 2011-12 | MIN | 55 | 39 | 44.8 | 37.2 | 82.4 | 4.1 | 9.2 | 13.4 | 2.0 | 2.8 | 0.9 | 2.3 | 0.5 | 26.0 |
| 2012-13 | MIN | 18 | 34 | 35.2 | 21.7 | 70.4 | 3.6 | 10.4 | 14.0 | 2.3 | 1.9 | 0.7 | 2.2 | 0.5 | 18.3 |
| 2013-14 | MIN | 77 | 36 | 45.7 | 37.6 | 82.1 | 2.9 | 9.6 | 12.5 | 4.4 | 1.8 | 0.8 | 2.6 | 0.5 | 26.1 |
| 2014-15 | KEY | 75 | 34 | 43.4 | 36.7 | 80.4 | 1.9 | 7.9 | 9.8 | 2.2 | 1.9 | 0.7 | 1.6 | 0.5 | 16.4 |
| 2015-16 | KEY | 77 | 32 | 41.9 | 36.0 | 82.2 | 1.9 | 8.0 | 9.9 | 2.4 | 2.1 | 0.8 | 1.8 | 0.5 | 16.0 |
| 2016-17 | KEY | 60 | 31 | 42.7 | 37.3 | 87.1 | 2.5 | 8.6 | 11.1 | 1.9 | 2.1 | 0.9 | 2.0 | 0.4 | 19.0 |
| 2017-18 | KEY | 59 | 28 | 45.8 | 41.5 | 88.0 | 1.7 | 7.5 | 9.3 | 1.8 | 2.0 | 0.7 | 1.5 | 0.4 | 17.6 |
| 2018-19 | KEY | 22 | 27 | 38.5 | 36.1 | 90.4 | 1.5 | 9.4 | 10.9 | 2.2 | 2.5 | 0.3 | 1.9 | 0.2 | 17.0 |
| 2019-20 | KEY | 56 | 32 | 45.0 | 37.4 | 85.4 | 1.0 | 8.8 | 9.8 | 3.2 | 1.6 | 0.6 | 2.5 | 0.3 | 17.6 |
| 2020-21 | KEY | 25 | 25 | 40.9 | 36.5 | 82.4 | 0.7 | 6.8 | 7.4 | 2.5 | 1.0 | 0.6 | 1.5 | 0.1 | 12.2 |
| 2021-22 | KEY | 74 | 23 | 43.0 | 39.2 | 83.8 | 1.2 | 6.1 | 7.2 | 2.2 | 1.4 | 0.4 | 1.3 | 0.2 | 13.6 |
| 2022-23 * | All Teams | 62 | 20 | 38.9 | 33.4 | 87.9 | 1.0 | 5.5 | 6.4 | 1.9 | 1.6 | 0.3 | 1.1 | 0.2 | 8.2 |
| 2022-23 * | KEY | 41 | 20 | 38.9 | 35.4 | 88.9 | 1.0 | 5.8 | 6.8 | 1.9 | 1.6 | 0.2 | 1.2 | 0.2 | 8.5 |
| 2022-23 * | MIA | 21 | 20 | 38.8 | 29.7 | 85.7 | 0.8 | 4.9 | 5.7 | 1.9 | 1.5 | 0.4 | 1.1 | 0.2 | 7.7 |
| Total | 874 | 30 | 43.9 | 37.0 | 83.0 | 2.4 | 7.9 | 10.4 | 2.3 | 2.0 | 0.6 | 1.9 | 0.4 | 17.0 | |
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def=defensive rebound; Tot = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; Pts = Points.
