Kevin Love feels the love in return to Cleveland, where he won NBA title in 2016
The 17-year NBA veteran receives a standing ovation in his 1st game back in Cleveland since signing with Miami 2 years ago.
Tom Withers | The Associated Press
Kevin Love saluted the crowd at Rocket Arena by pointing to his ring finger.
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CLEVELAND (AP) — Kevin Love felt Cleveland’s deep love once again.
Now with Miami, Love returned to face the Cavaliers on Wednesday night for the first time since signing with the Heat two years ago.
The 36-year-old Love spent nine seasons with the Cavs and was a major factor in the team winning the 2016 NBA championship — the first major sports title for a Cleveland team since 1964. No longer in the rotation under coach J.B. Bickerstaff, Love accepted a buyout in 2023 to sign with Miami.
A five-time All-Star, Love received a roaring ovation from Cleveland fans during a video tribute in the first quarter. The montage of highlights included Love’s defense on Golden State superstar Stephen Curry in the closing seconds of Game 7 of the ’16 Finals.
The Cavs rallied from a 3-1 deficit in the series to stun the Warriors, the first such comeback in NBA Finals history.
Love saluted the crowd by pointing to his ring finger.
Before tip-off, Love caught up with former Cavs teammate Richard Jefferson, who was on ESPN’s broadcast team for the game. He also spent time chatting with Cleveland general manager Koby Altman and Cavs guard Max Strus, whom he played with briefly in Miami.
Although Love now is primarily a contributor off the bench, Heat coach Erik Spoelstra praised his selflessness and said he has been invaluable while serving as a mentor to rookie center Kel’el Ware and forward Nikola Jovic.
“A lot of vets don’t really want to accept that kind of role and that kind of transition and he has been able to do that gracefully,” Spoelstra said. “Those kind of guys are really necessary in this league. I wish there were more vets that would embrace that because with a younger league I think you do need that kind of mentorship, guys that can still do it, that can still play but then have that emotional stability to also pave room for a guy like Ware and Jovic.
“He sacrificed his minutes for their development and that speaks a lot to his character.”
Cleveland is back in the lead as the rest of the league begins the process of slotting into postseason spots.
With 5 weeks left in the season, Stephon Castle and Jaylen Wells are leading the pack in an intense pursuit of rookie hardware.
With award frontrunner Victor Wembanyama sidelined for the season, the chase for the Hakeem Olajuwon Trophy is wide open.
The Cavs own the best record in the NBA (51-10) and stand alone atop the Eastern Conference.
Stay in the know on tonight’s NBA action as we keep you updated with the latest news and happenings around the league.
With award frontrunner Victor Wembanyama sidelined for the season, the chase for the Hakeem Olajuwon Trophy is wide open.
With 5 weeks left in the season, Stephon Castle and Jaylen Wells are leading the pack in an intense pursuit of rookie hardware.
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The 2025 NBA Finals Presented by YouTube TV will begin with Game 1 on June 5, 2025 with ABC as the exclusive broadcaster.
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Kevin Love Talks About Adjusting To Reduced Role With Heat
Hoops Rumors
As Kevin Love returns to Cleveland tonight for the first time since agreeing a buyout in 2023, Barry Jackson of The Miami Herald points out that he’s filling a role with the Heat that he wasn’t willing to accept with the Cavaliers two years ago. Love has become an elder statesman in Miami, dispensing knowledge more often than taking the court. He told Jackson that he “wasn’t ready yet” to be a part-time player at age 34, but that has changed now that he’s 36.
“I’m certainly understanding of where I’m at,” Love said. “It’s one of the things I told coach. I get it. I want to keep pouring into this team and doing whatever I can. Stay ready, and if I do or do not get time, I’m going to keep being a mentor or sounding board for (teammates).”
Love has appeared in 20 games this season, averaging 5.3 points, 4.3 rebounds and 1.0 assists in 11 minutes per night. Jackson notes that he has only gotten onto the court in five of the past 27 games when he’s been on the active roster and has played just 36 combined minutes since January 1.
However, Love occasionally shows flashes of the talent that earned him five All-Star appearances and has enabled him to remain in the league for 17 years. With the Heat short-handed Monday against Washington, Love came off the bench to grab nine rebounds in 12 minutes.
Love inherited the veteran leadership role that Udonis Haslem used to fill before he retired. He uses humor and serious discussions to keep his teammates focused, adding that the conversations often spin off into other directions.
With one season left on his contract at $4.2MM, it’s a role that Love figures to occupy for at least another year.
“I let Tyler (Herro) come to me about stuff non-basketball related,” he said. “I’m trying to create a really great ecosystem here where we can celebrate each other, celebrate small wins, and build guys up. I know how this thing goes. It’s monotonous. Guys can get into a situation (where they’re wondering), ‘Are we headed for the play-in again? Or what are we doing?”
Love told Jackson that returning to Cleveland will be meaningful after missing both games last season — one due to injury and another for personal reasons. Tonight is Miami’s only trip to Rocket Arena this season, although the teams could meet in the playoffs if Miami winds up with the No. 8 seed.
“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.”
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