Kevin Love, a veteran of the Miami Heat, turns 35 today.
Although Love’s stint with the Heat was brief, the fans were very appreciative of him. An underappreciated aspect of the Heat’s march to the Finals was his playmaking. The hustling plays and fullcourt assists were crucial components of Miami’s turnaround after the All-Star break.
Love was acquired by the Heat to help them with their size and rebounding, two areas where they struggled last season. Caleb Martin was put back on the bench as a wing after Love started as the power forward, putting him back where he flourished. In the regular season, he averaged 7.7 points and 5.7 rebounds, and in the postseason, 6.9 points and 5.6 rebounds. These numbers do not accurately reflect the work he did after signing with Miami.
Even though Love’s prime is over, he may still benefit Miami and improve his chances of being inducted into the Hall of Fame. Despite not being chosen on the first ballot, he is starting to enter the conversation thanks to a championship and five All-Star selections. A second victory might improve his eligibility.
But let’s just commemorate Love’s birthday and his contributions to Miami for the time being.