Kevin Love plays professional basketball for the Miami Heat in the NBA. He has been an All-Star 5 times, made the All-NBA Second Team twice, won an NBA championship with Cleveland Cavaliers in 2016, and played on USA's gold medal-winning team at the 2010 FIBA World Championship and 2012 Summer Olympics. In 2011, he achieved the NBA's Most Improved Player Award and topped the league in rebounding.
Kevin Love led UCLA Bruins to a Final Four in the 2008 NCAA Tournament after being a top prospect from Lake Oswego High School in Oregon. He earned the Pac-12 Conference Player of the Year title and a consensus First Team All-American. He skipped his remaining three years of college eligibility and entered the 2008 NBA draft, picked fifth overall by the Memphis Grizzlies. However, On draft night, he was traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves in an eight-player deal for O.J. Mayo, the third overall selection. Love holds the record for the longest streak of consecutive games with double-digit points and rebounds since the ABA-NBA merger during the 2010-11 season.
Love played for Minnesota for six seasons before being traded to the Cavaliers in 2014. He won a championship with the team but suffered multiple injuries from 2018 to 2021, leading to a reduced role and eventually a contract buyout. In February 2023, Love joined Miami and reached his fifth NBA Finals in his fifth playoff run.
Love won gold medals with the United States national basketball team at the 2010 FIBA World Championship and 2012 Olympics, and withdrew from the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup and 2020 Olympics due to injury.
Kevin Love's buyout
On February 18, 2023, Kevin Love agreed to a contract buyout with the Cleveland Cavaliers, making him a free agent. Love was owed $8.8 million of his $28.9 million salary for the season. The Cavaliers waived $7 million, meaning Kevin ultimately received $7 million from the Cavs as a gesture, while the Cavaliers kept $1.5 million. After the buyout, Love signed with the Miami Heat for $3.1 million, earning an extra $1.6 million.
A thumb fracture suffered by Love in November has impacted his effectiveness. Since the injury on November 19, his shooting percentages have dropped significantly. He has only shot 31% from three and 54% at the rim, with an effective field goal percentage of 46%, significantly below his normal career levels.
Before the buyout, he was a regular player for Cleveland but missed 12 consecutive games. It was uncertain if he could regain his spot in the team during the season's final stretch.
Kevin Love has signed a two-year contract worth $7,863,263 with the Miami Heat. He will earn $3,835,738 for the 2023-24 season, followed by an increase to $4,027,525 the next year.
FAQs
A. Kevin and Kate Bock got married on June 25, 2022.
A. Kevin was born on September 7, 1988, which means he is currently 34 years and 10 months old.
A. The Cavs bought him out of his remaining $8.5 million. To curry favor and get his release faster, Love gave back $1.5 million; the Cavs gave him $7 million to play elsewhere.
A. His Salary for the 2023-24 season would be $3,835,738.
