Kevin Love left the Cavs because he thinks he still has some under his feet

“ It’s obvious that I would have liked to win tonight, but when we don’t play against them, I will encourage them every time. “Kevin Love shows in his own way his” love ” and his ” respect for his former team, the Cavs, who came to win on the Heat floor tonight.

This meeting was an opportunity for the interior, author of 8 points (4/7) and 8 rebounds, to reconsider its decision to negotiate a “buyout” with the Cavs. ” Professionally, it’s the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do, without a doubt. You know how much I love Cleveland and Ohio. All the fans there have always supported me and the team. Naturally, winning there matters more than (what represent) guys like me Kyrie (Irving), Bron (LeBron James),” book kevin love in reference to his nine seasons spent in Cleveland, marked by the apotheosis of the title in 2016.

But this period of glory is now very distant. His two former “Big Three” mates left the team years ago. The youth (Donovan Mitchell, Darius Garland, Evan Mobley, Jarrett Allen…) have since taken power. And the 34-year-old inside, among the oldest and most experienced of the team with Robin Lopez, found his place there less and less.

While he still played about twenty minutes at the start of the season, he gradually lost his place in the rotation, until he stopped playing at all from the end of January. A situation that did not completely surprise him, but the veteran felt he could still contribute.

No resentment towards the Cavs

” I know I can still play. Sometimes you have to know how to sacrifice yourself. I wanted to be on the field and be part of something bigger than me. I didn’t think I was already at the point of sitting down (on the bench) and watch “Judges the former Wolves, converted into the 6th man at the Cavs from last season.

Unhappy with JB Bickerstaff’s decision then? Instead ” frustrated “, in fact, to be on the bench and never leave it. ” I thought that if given another opportunity, I could make an impact. That anger, that frustration, that kind of stuff, it wasn’t because I was mad at the leaders or JB or anyone. It’s more that I still think I can play. »

But Kevin Love did not know when this new opportunity was going to present itself. And if the Cavs were planning, for example, to wait until the playoffs before deciding on his case. According to him, the communication between the two parties was difficult to pass on the end. ” It added frustration “, describes the interior which finally obtained its “buyout” in mid-February.

He thus left the 4th best formation in the East, for the current 7th. While recovering, above all, a starting place in Miami with a statistical production comparable to that displayed in Ohio.