Kevin Love Leaves Heat Amid Ongoing Family Reasons

Love hasn’t played since March 7. The five-time All-Star has appeared in 23 games this season. He’s averaging 5.3 points, 4.1 rebounds and 1.0 assists while shooting 35.7% from the field, 35.8% from beyond the arc and 69.6% from the free-throw line. 

Love is in his third season with the Heat. He joined the franchise in 2023 after leaving the Cleveland Cavaliers, the franchise he won the 2016 championship with.  

Love appeared in 489 games with the Cavaliers. He averaged 15.7 points, 9.2 rebounds and 2.2 assists and made two All-Star teams. 

Cleveland will retire Love’s No. 0 jersey when the veteran ends his NBA career. The Cavaliers will hang Love’s No. 0 jersey next to Nick Gilbert’s banner. 

Last season, the Cavaliers paid tribute to Nick, the late son of owner Dan Gilbert, by raising a banner to the rafters at Rocket Arena. Nick passed away at 26. He had neurofibromatosis (NF1), a disorder that causes noncancerous tumors to grow on the brain, spinal cord and skin. There is no cure.

“One of the things I spoke about with ownership, I said if it is me, I’d be honored to go up next to him in the rafters,” Love said. “We’ll all be pretty close, so yeah, I might be the first one.”

A UCLA product, Love has career averages of 16.2 points, 10.0 rebounds and 2.3 assists with the Minnesota Timberwolves, Cavaliers and Miami Heat. He’s made five All-Star teams and two All-NBA teams. 

Love won the 2010-11 Most Improved Player of the Year Award with the Timberwolves. 

“I have so much love for that organization and city and Ohio,” Love said. “When you go on a Finals run with special players, that will always be a part of you. I’ll probably go home and look at my ring and reflect a little bit.”