Cleveland Cavaliers Announce Kevin Love's Jersey Retirement

Cleveland Cavaliers Announce Kevin Love's Jersey Retirement

Love’s #0 will soon hang in the rafters.

In a special moment, Kevin Love played his first NBA game in Cleveland since February 2023, which began with a tribute video and culminated in the announcement that Love’s jersey will be retired by the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Reflecting on his time with the team, Love shared, “I look in the mirror and think, where did the time go? Eight and a half great years in Cleveland. My number will, because I’ve been told, eventually go up there next to Nick Gilbert.”

Love played for the Cavaliers for nine seasons after joining the team in 2014. While his arrival wasn't the headline of that summer (with LeBron James taking that spotlight), Love was undoubtedly a key addition. He sacrificed his All-NBA status in Minnesota to take on the role of a third option behind James and Kyrie Irving.

Though the transition wasn’t always smooth and involved growing pains, Love’s commitment led the team to its first-ever NBA championship. During his tenure, he averaged 16.3 points and 9.4 rebounds per game, adding two more All-Star selections to his accolades.

Love’s role alongside the Big Three was crucial. His ability to rebound and stretch the floor made him a perfect complement to James and Irving, and his outlet passes to a sprinting LeBron became a signature play.

When James and Irving left, Love became the final member of the Big Three. While the rebuilding process often left him frustrated, Love thrived as a veteran leader, helping guide players like Darius Garland, Evan Mobley, and Jarrett Allen. His final full season in Cleveland saw him finish as a Sixth Man of the Year finalist.

The end of his time in Cleveland wasn’t ideal, as his production and playing time declined, eventually leading to a buyout in February 2023. Love joined the Miami Heat and went on to make another NBA Finals appearance. Since then, the Cavaliers have flourished with a 52-10 record, while Love finds himself at the end of his tenure with a struggling Miami squad.

It’s no surprise that Love’s jersey will be retired, and it’s expected that Kyrie Irving and possibly even Tristan Thompson may join him in the rafters. Of course, LeBron James will have his jersey and likely a statue at some point. But Love’s contributions to Cleveland cannot be overlooked. He was a joy to watch for nine seasons, and without his key defensive stop, the Cavaliers’ historic championship would not have been possible.

Reflecting on the 2016 team, Love said, “We [the 2016 team] have a group chat that we speak to every single day. You say the word ‘brotherhood’ — you win together. That’s what it creates. And what it meant to the city after 52 years without a major sports team winning a championship, it’s tough to put into words what that means to all of us — and we’re coming up on 10 years now. It’s just crazy.”

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