Kevin Wesley Love (born September 7, 1988) is an American professional basketball player who has played as a power forward and center in the National Basketball Association (NBA) since 2008. He is a two‑time NBA All‑Star, a 2016 NBA champion with the Golden State Warriors, and the 2011 NBA Most Valuable Player (MVP) recipient for the league's regular‑season statistical award, the NBA Scoring Title. Love is noted for his rebounding and three‑point shooting abilities.
Early life and education
Kevin Love was born in Santa Monica, California, to parents Karen Love (née Heisler) and Stan Love, a former NBA player and professional volleyball player. He grew up in Lake Oswego, Oregon, where he attended Lake Oswego High School. As a high‑school athlete, Love earned numerous accolades, including being named a McDonald’s All‑American and a Parade All‑American.
Love enrolled at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) in 2006, playing one season for the UCLA Bruins under head coach Ben Howland. During the 2007–08 season, he averaged 17.5 points and 10.6 rebounds per game, earning first‑team All‑Pacific‑10 honors and the Pac‑10 Player of the Year award.
Professional career
Minnesota Timberwolves (2008–2014)
Love declared for the 2008 NBA Draft and was selected fifth overall by the Memphis Grizzlies, then traded on draft night to the Minnesota Timberwolves. He signed a rookie‑scale contract and quickly became a key contributor, averaging 14.0 points and 8.4 rebounds per game in his rookie season and earning NBA All‑Rookie Second Team honors. Over six seasons with Minnesota, Love developed into one of the league’s premier rebounders and three‑point shooters, achieving a career‑high 26.0 points per game during the 2013–14 season.
Chicago Bulls (2014–2015)
In July 2014, Love was traded to the Chicago Bulls as part of a multi‑team deal. He posted averages of 16.7 points and 9.1 rebounds per game during the 2014–15 season and was selected to the NBA All‑Star Game for the first time.
Cleveland Cavaliers (2015–2023)
Love signed a four‑year, $120 million contract with the Cleveland Cavaliers in July 2015. He formed a high‑profile trio with LeBron James and Kyrie Irving, and the team reached the 2015 NBA Finals, losing to the Warriors. The following season, Love and the Cavaliers won the NBA Championship in 2016, defeating the Golden State Warriors in a seven‑game series. He earned his second All‑Star selection in 2016 and again in 2018. Love’s tenure with Cleveland was marked by both high performance and periods of injury, including a significant foot fracture in 2018 that sidelined him for most of the 2018–19 season.
Golden State Warriors (2023–present)
In February 2023, Love was traded to the Golden State Warriors as part of a three‑team deal. He contributed veteran experience and floor spacing off the bench, helping the Warriors secure a playoff berth.
National team career
Love represented the United States at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, where he was part of the gold‑medal‑winning men’s basketball team. He also played on USA Basketball’s senior national team during qualifying tournaments.
Playing style and achievements
Love is recognized for his combination of size, shooting range, and rebounding. He is among the NBA’s all‑time leaders in career three‑point field goals made by a player listed as a power forward. Notable career milestones include:
- NBA All‑Star selections: 2012, 2014, 2016, 2018
- NBA champion (2016)
- NBA scoring champion (2011)
- NBA All‑Defensive Second Team (2012)
- NBA rebounding leader (2020)
Personal life
Kevin Love has been an outspoken advocate for mental health awareness, publicly discussing his own experiences with anxiety and depression. In 2018, he co‑authored the memoir “Everyone Is Going Through Something” and has participated in various charitable initiatives, including donating to youth basketball programs and supporting organizations focused on mental health.
Legacy
Love’s career is noted for his impact on the evolving role of the stretch‑four position, where his ability to space the floor with three‑point shooting has influenced NBA offensive strategies. His contributions to the 2016 Cavaliers championship team are frequently cited in discussions of NBA history.
