Kevin Love may not have played much in the quick first-round loss to the Celtics (4-1), but the veteran interior proved valuable again this season with the Heat. Still in Erik Spoelstra’s rotation, he sometimes provided valuable services, particularly when the Florida infirmary was full. With 8.8 points, 6.1 rebounds and six double-doubles this season in about 17 minutes, the former Wolves and Cavaliers player has no plans to hang it up this summer.
« I don’t want to retire, I would like to continue playing » he proclaimed before Game 5 against Boston on Wednesday. Kevin Love does not approach the offseason without perspective, he who has a “ player option » at around $4 million to stay one more season with the Heat.
Love, KD, LeBron and the others
One of the leaders of the Miami locker room with 16 years in the league, Kevin Love admits that he sees more of the end of the road, and thus encourages his teammates, notably Nikola Jovic, 15 years his junior, to take advantage of all the possible opportunities. The 2016 champion with Cleveland takes a step back and sees his generation slowly passing the torch.
« I remember I was in my tenth season, or had just finished it, and Kevin Durant had just concluded his eleventh (editor’s note in 2018),” he told local media. “ We were with Team USA in Las Vegas and we said to ourselves: ‘Damn, even if we reach 20 seasons, we’re already in the downward phase’. So now in my 16th year, the end is still far away, but you see it much more than after the tenth or second year. I imagine we are reaching the final chapters of an era with LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Steph Curry and these guys. »
Second in the votes for the best sixth man only two years ago, Kevin Love could draw inspiration from the longevity of the players he cited, certainly all eliminated from the title race, but still dashing individually.
Player option : possibility for a player to activate (or not) the last year of his contract, in order to end his lease or become a “free agent” one year in advance.
Kevin Love Percentage Rebounds Season Team MJ Min Shots 3pts LF Off Def Tot Pd Fte Int Bp Ct Pts 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 2 9 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 8 2.4 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 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 CLE 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 CLE 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 CLE 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 CLE 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 CLE 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 CLE 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 CLE 74 23 43.0 39.2 83.8 1.2 6.1 7.2 2.2 1.4 0.4 1.3 0.2 13.6 2022-23 * All Teams 62 20 38.9 33.4 87.9 1.0 5.5 6.4 1.9 1.6 0.3 1.1 0.2 8.2 2022-23 * KEY 41 20 38.9 35.4 88.9 1.0 5.8 6.8 1.9 1.6 0.2 1.2 0.2 8.5 2022-23 * MIA 21 20 38.8 29.7 85.7 0.8 4.9 5.7 1.9 1.5 0.4 1.1 0.2 7.7 2023-24 M AI 55 17 44.0 34.4 78.7 1.1 5.1 6.2 2.1 1.8 0.3 0.9 0.2 8.8 Total 929 29 43.9 36.9 82.9 2.4 7.8 10.1 2.3 2.0 0.6 1.8 0.4 16.5
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def=defensive rebound; Tot = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; Pts = Points.
2024-05-02 17:49:10
#retirement #sight #Kevin #Love #Basket #USA
