Injured in the calf for a large part of last season (he only played 25 matches), Kevin Love lived through a complicated summer of 2021. As he had not recovered physically, he had to give up on the Olympic adventure in Tokyo.
Then, with the arrivals of Lauri Markkanen and Evan Mobley, his role would mechanically diminish with the Cavaliers. The 2016 champion had therefore started negotiations to leave Cleveland.
Eventually, he stayed in Ohio, accepted his role as sixth man and had a good season averaging 13.9 points and 7.1 rebounds in 22 minutes.
“The most important thing for me, my number one goal, was to be healthy”, he tells The Athletic. “It wasn’t until August that I managed to put my calf injury behind me. I knew that once in good physical shape, after my injury last season, I could be effective. It doesn’t matter how long I play.”
“I feel comfortable in this role”
The former Minnesota has only missed eight games this season, and it’s not because of injury. He was affected by Covid-19 in early November. Before that, he was still a sensation-seeker.
It was only from the beginning of December that the 2012 Olympic champion tamed his role as sixth man, by chaining matches to more than 10 points.
“We had a very transparent relationship with JB Bickerstaff, to define what he expected of me for this role of sixth man”he explains. “It was a learning curve for me. I found myself there after having the Covid. The first few weeks, I tried to find solutions with my minutes and learn to play with the guys. After the Covid episode, I sort of took off. I feel comfortable in this role, whether I have 15 or 30 minutes. “
To the point, at 33, of feeling like during his best seasons, those where he was All-Star? “I feel free and very good. I’ve always had game quality and intelligence. So if I’m healthy, I know I can have an impact. “
This metamorphosis is welcomed by his coach. From a ball, because weighed down by his physique and his huge contract (he is paid 31.3 million dollars this season and will touch 28.9 next season), Kevin Love has become a precious element for the young Cavaliers, especially with the injuries that have hit the franchise in recent weeks.
“When you carry a franchise, you are its face, you play a lot etc., and all that changes, there is a hangover”, says JB Bickerstaff. “It can have an impact on the person and on his game, therefore on the team. There was none of that. After our conversation, he arrived on the first day ready and involved. His sacrifice gave me the green light to get accountability from everyone. “
| Kevin Love | Percentage | Bounces | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | GM | Minimum | Shots | 3 points | LF | Off | Def | Early | pd | party | Int | bp | CT | Points |
| 2008-09 | MIN | 81 | 25 | 45.9 | 10.5 | 78.9 | 3.4 | 5.7 | 9.1 | 1.0 | 2.5 | 0.4 | 1.5 | 0.6 | 11.1 |
| 2009-10 | MIN | 60 | 29 | 45.0 | 33.0 | 81.5 | 3.8 | 7.2 | 11.0 | 2.3 | 2.3 | 0.7 | 2.0 | 0.4 | 14.0 |
| 2010-11 | MIN | 73 | 36 | 47.0 | 41.7 | 85.0 | 4.5 | 10.7 | 15.2 | 2.5 | 2.0 | 0.6 | 2.1 | 0.4 | 20.2 |
| 2011-12 | MIN | 55 | 39 | 44.8 | 37.2 | 82.4 | 4.1 | 9.2 | 13.4 | 2.0 | 2.8 | 0.9 | 2.3 | 0.5 | 26.0 |
| 2012-13 | MIN | 18 | 34 | 35.2 | 21.7 | 70.4 | 3.6 | 10.4 | 14.0 | 2.3 | 1.9 | 0.7 | 2.2 | 0.5 | 18.3 |
| 2013-14 | MIN | 77 | 36 | 45.7 | 37.6 | 82.1 | 2.9 | 9.6 | 12.5 | 4.4 | 1.8 | 0.8 | 2.6 | 0.5 | 26.1 |
| 2014-15 | KEY | 75 | 34 | 43.4 | 36.7 | 80.4 | 1.9 | 7.9 | 9.8 | 2.2 | 1.9 | 0.7 | 1.6 | 0.5 | 16.4 |
| 2015-16 | KEY | 77 | 32 | 41.9 | 36.0 | 82.2 | 1.9 | 8.0 | 9.9 | 2.4 | 2.1 | 0.8 | 1.8 | 0.5 | 16.0 |
| 2016-17 | KEY | 60 | 31 | 42.7 | 37.3 | 87.1 | 2.5 | 8.6 | 11.1 | 1.9 | 2.1 | 0.9 | 2.0 | 0.4 | 19.0 |
| 2017-18 | KEY | 59 | 28 | 45.8 | 41.5 | 88.0 | 1.7 | 7.5 | 9.3 | 1.8 | 2.0 | 0.7 | 1.5 | 0.4 | 17.6 |
| 2018-19 | KEY | 22 | 27 | 38.5 | 36.1 | 90.4 | 1.5 | 9.4 | 10.9 | 2.2 | 2.5 | 0.3 | 1.9 | 0.2 | 17.0 |
| 2019-20 | KEY | 56 | 32 | 45.0 | 37.4 | 85.4 | 1.0 | 8.8 | 9.8 | 3.2 | 1.6 | 0.6 | 2.5 | 0.3 | 17.6 |
| 2020-21 | KEY | 25 | 25 | 40.9 | 36.5 | 82.4 | 0.7 | 6.8 | 7.4 | 2.5 | 1.0 | 0.6 | 1.5 | 0.1 | 12.2 |
| 2021-22 | KEY | 56 | 22 | 42.0 | 39.2 | 85.5 | 1.1 | 6.1 | 7.2 | 2.2 | 1.2 | 0.3 | 1.2 | 0.2 | 14.0 |
| Total | 794 | 31 | 44.0 | 37.2 | 82.9 | 2.6 | 8.2 | 10.8 | 2.4 | 2.0 | 0.7 | 1.9 | 0.4 | 17.7 | |
