Rise to Success: Career Highlights of Kevin Love
How Kevin Love built a successful career. Explore key moments that defined the journey.
Kevin Love is a professional basketball player currently with the Miami Heat. A five-time All-Star and two-time All-NBA Second Team selection, he won an NBA championship with the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2016. Love has also achieved international success, winning gold medals with the United States national team at the 2010 FIBA World Championship and the 2012 Summer Olympics. In 2011, he was named the NBA Most Improved Player and led the league in rebounding, highlighting his individual accomplishments.
2007: Kevin Garnett Trade
In 2007, Kevin Garnett was traded from the Timberwolves to the Boston Celtics, after which Love emerged as the new face of the franchise.
April 17, 2008: NBA Draft Declaration
On April 17, 2008, Kevin Love announced his intention to leave UCLA and enter the 2008 NBA draft.
2008: Pac-10 Championship and Final Four
In 2008, Kevin Love helped UCLA win the Pac-10 regular season and tournament championships, earning a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament and reaching the Final Four.
2008: Final Four Appearance and NBA Draft
In 2008, Kevin Love led the UCLA Bruins to a Final Four appearance in the NCAA Tournament. He was named a consensus First Team All-American and Pac-12 player of the year. He entered the 2008 NBA draft, where he was drafted fifth overall by the Memphis Grizzlies and then traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves.
2008: Love starred in the documentary Gunnin' for That No. 1 Spot
In 2008, Kevin Love was one of the stars in the feature-length documentary Gunnin' for That No. 1 Spot.
December 4, 2009: Return to Timberwolves Lineup
On December 4, 2009, Kevin Love returned to play for the Timberwolves against the New Orleans Hornets.
2009: Love appeared on the cover of NCAA Basketball 09
In 2009, Kevin Love appeared on the front cover of the video game NCAA Basketball 09.
2009: Love joined the Hoops for St. Jude charity program
In 2009, Kevin Love became the first among NBA players to join the Hoops for St. Jude charity program, benefitting the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.
2009: USA National Team Mini-Camp Invitation
In 2009, Kevin Love was invited to participate in the USA National Team mini-camp in Las Vegas.
2010: Kevin McHale Won't Return
In 2009, Kevin Love generated attention when he broke the story via his Twitter account that Kevin McHale would not return to coach the Timberwolves for the 2009-2010 season.
2010: Love won gold at the 2010 FIBA World Championship
In 2010, Kevin Love was a member of the United States national team that won the gold medal at the FIBA World Championship.
February 4, 2011: NBA All-Star Selection
On February 4, 2011, Kevin Love was selected to his first NBA All-Star Game as an injury replacement.
2011: NBA Most Improved Player Award
In 2011, Kevin Love received the NBA Most Improved Player Award and led the league in rebounding.
2011: Love signed endorsement contract with 361 Degrees
In 2011, Kevin Love signed a 6-year endorsement contract with the Chinese shoe company 361 Degrees.
January 2012: Consecutive 30-Point Games
In January 2012, Kevin Love scored 30 points in three consecutive games for the first time in his career.
July 7, 2012: Love made the 2012 Olympic team
On July 7, 2012, Kevin Love was selected for the 2012 Olympic team, which went on to win the gold medal.
2012: Love became an investor in the lifestyle website 12Society
In 2012, Kevin Love became an investor in the lifestyle website 12Society.
2012: Love starred in the short documentary My Life As An NBA Rookie
In 2012, Kevin Love was in the short documentary My Life As An NBA Rookie.
2012: Love appeared in Pepsi Max "Uncle Drew" internet advertising campaign
In 2012, Kevin Love was part of an internet advertising campaign by PepsiCo for Pepsi Max that featured the character "Uncle Drew" played by Kyrie Irving.
February 22, 2014: Love Records First Career Triple Double
On February 22, 2014, Kevin Love recorded his first career triple double with 37 points, 12 rebounds, and 10 assists in a win against the Utah Jazz.
April 2, 2014: Love Logs Third Career Triple Double
On April 2, 2014, Kevin Love recorded his third career triple double with 24 points, 16 rebounds, and 10 assists in a win over the Memphis Grizzlies.
August 23, 2014: Love Traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers
On August 23, 2014, Kevin Love was traded by the Timberwolves to the Cleveland Cavaliers in a three-team trade.
2014: Trade to the Cleveland Cavaliers
In 2014, Kevin Love was traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers after playing six seasons with the Minnesota Timberwolves.
2014: Love withdrew from the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup team
In 2014, Kevin Love withdrew himself from the FIBA Basketball World Cup team due to unresolved trade talks.
June 24, 2015: Love opts out of contract
On June 24, 2015, Love opted out of the final year of his contract, worth $16.7 million in 2015–16, to return to free agency.
July 9, 2015: Love Re-Signs With Cavaliers
On July 9, 2015, Kevin Love re-signed with the Cleveland Cavaliers, continuing his career with the team.
2015: Unrestricted Free Agency
In January 2011, Kevin Love agreed to a four-year contract extension allowing him to become an unrestricted free agent as early as 2015.
September 2016: Love donated to UCLA Athletics
In September 2016, Kevin Love donated $1 million to UCLA Athletics, matching a gift by Russell Westbrook, to fund the construction of the Mo Ostin Basketball Center.
October 25, 2016: Love Receives Championship Ring, Scores 23 Points
On October 25, 2016, after receiving his first championship ring, Kevin Love recorded 23 points and 12 rebounds in a win over the New York Knicks.
2016: Love became style ambassador for Banana Republic
In 2016, Kevin Love became the new style ambassador and campaign model for Banana Republic.
2016: NBA Championship with the Cavaliers
In 2016, Kevin Love won an NBA championship with the Cleveland Cavaliers, marking a significant triumph in his career.
March 2018: Love revealed he was seeing a therapist and wrote "Everyone Is Going Through Something"
In March 2018, Kevin Love revealed that he had been seeing a therapist for several months following a panic attack, and he wrote an article in The Players' Tribune entitled, "Everyone Is Going Through Something," discussing mental health.
April 1, 2018: Love Records 400th Career Double-Double
On April 1, 2018, Kevin Love recorded his 400th career double-double with 13 points and 13 rebounds in a win over the Dallas Mavericks.
July 24, 2018: Love Signs Four-Year, $120 Million Extension
On July 24, 2018, Kevin Love signed a four-year, $120 million contract extension with the Cleveland Cavaliers.
August 2018: Love continued his advocacy for mental health awareness
In August 2018, Kevin Love continued his advocacy for mental health awareness, discussing his family's history of depression and his own struggles, and committed to forming a foundation focusing on mental health.
2018: Love established the Kevin Love Fund
In 2018, Kevin Love established the Kevin Love Fund to improve physical and emotional well-being, aiming to assist more than 1 billion people over the next five years.
2018: Uncle Drew movie released
In 2018, the movie "Uncle Drew" was released, based on the Pepsi Max ad campaign which Kevin Love had participated in 2012, although he was not part of the movie production.
March 12, 2020: Kevin Love Fund donated to Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse support staff
On March 12, 2020, The Kevin Love Fund donated $100,000 to the support staff of Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse who were unable to work during the 2020 coronavirus pandemic.
April 26, 2020: The Kevin Love Fund sent lunches to Cleveland Clinic staff
On April 26, 2020, The Kevin Love Fund sent a truckload of lunches to the staff of the Cleveland Clinic's Medical Intensive Care Unit and its COVID-19 testing sites.
June 22, 2020: Love pledged $500,000 to establish Kevin Love Fund Chair in UCLA's psychology department
On June 22, 2020, Kevin Love announced that his fund was pledging $500,000 to establish the Kevin Love Fund Chair in UCLA's psychology department, supporting research on anxiety and depression.
2020: Love withdrew from the 2020 Olympic team
In 2020, Kevin Love was selected for the Tokyo Olympic team, but withdrew after the third exhibition game, citing his recovery from a right calf injury.
2021: Reserve Role and Sixth Man of the Year Runner-Up
In the 2021–22 season, Kevin Love transitioned to a reserve role and finished as runner-up for the Sixth Man of the Year award.
February 2023: Joined the Miami Heat
In February 2023, Kevin Love reached a contract buyout agreement with the Cavaliers and then joined the Miami Heat, subsequently reaching his fifth NBA Finals.
February 18, 2023: Love Agrees to Contract Buyout with Cavaliers
On February 18, 2023, Kevin Love and the Cavaliers officially agreed to a contract buyout, making him a free agent.
February 20, 2023: Love Signs with Miami Heat
On February 20, 2023, Kevin Love signed with the Miami Heat, joining the team as a free agent.
July 6, 2023: Love re-signed with the Heat
On July 6, 2023, Kevin Love re-signed with the Miami Heat, continuing his NBA career with the team.
2023: Love expressed interest in retiring with Cavaliers
In 2023, Kevin Love announced his plan to return to Cleveland before retiring, stating he is "definitely open to coming back and retiring" with the Cavaliers.
July 6, 2024: Love re-signed with Miami Heat
On July 6, 2024, Kevin Love re-signed with the Miami Heat for another season.
