Kevin Love Biography Facts, Childhood, Net Worth, Life

Kevin Love Biography Facts, Childhood, Net Worth, Life
Cleveland Cavaliers' Power forward / Center, Kevin Love, in 2019. (Photo credit: ripcityproject.com)

Kevin Love is a professional basketball player from the United States who plays in the National Basketball Association (NBA) for the Cleveland Cavaliers. One of the most successful basketball players currently in the NBA, Love who claimed the NBA Championship with the Cavaliers in 2016, has received All-Stars honours on 5 different occasions. Aside these, Love has gone on to claim several Laurels and honours throughout his 12 years stint in the NBA. Kevin Love biography facts, childhood, net worth and personal life review the profile and the rise of one of NBA’s top stars to the apex of basketball.

Kevin Love Biography Facts, Age, Nicknames, Family, Zodiac

  • Full Name: Kevin Wesley Love
  • Nicknames: Menace, Lil Kev, Knuckle-Pushups, The Disaster Master of Plaster
  • Born: September 7, 1988
  • Age: 35 years
  • Place of Birth: Santa Monica, California, United States
  • Nationality: American
  • Height: 6 feet, 8 inches
  • Weight: 251 lb (114 kg)
  • Education: Lake Oswego High School, University of California, Los Angeles
  • Parents: Stan Love (father), Karen Love (mother)
  • Sibling: Emily Love (sister), Collin Love (brother)
  • Net Worth: $60 million
  • Occupation: Basketball Player
  • Current Team: Cleveland Cavaliers
  • Playing Position: Power forward, Center
  • Playing Career: 2008–present
  • Zodiac Sign: Virgo

Kevin Love Childhood Story & Early Life

Born on 7 September 1988, Kevin Love is one out of the three children born to his father, Stan Love and mother, Karen Love in California. Though he was born in California, he was raised in Oregon, where he began playing basketball. Love got introduced to basketball by his father who is a former NBA player. As a child, Love practised with tapes of former NBA star, Wes Unseld. His father further helped brush up his ball manoeuvring and shooting skills. At Oregon, Love met Klay Thompson, his childhood friend, who went on to make a name for himself in the NBA.

Kevin Love High School Basketball

Kevin Love played for the Lake Oswego Lakers during his high school days. By his second year, he recorded an average of 25.3 points, 3.7 assists as well as 15.4 rebounds. That season, he led his team to the finals of the state championship which they lost. He went on to play in the Reebok ABCD Camp. While playing for the Southern California All-Stars, Love claimed the MVP awards on three occasions. In his third year in high school, he recorded an average of 28 points and 16.1 rebounds.

In his senior year, he registered an average of 33.9 points and 17 rebounds as he led his side to the finals of the state championship, which they lost again. For his impressive performance in the final, he was awarded the Gatorade National Male Athlete of the Year award and was named to the Parade All-American first team. At the end of his high school career, Love was the top scorer in Oregon male basketball.

Kevin Love College Basketball 

Love made the decision to play for the University of California, Los Angeles. His decision sparked criticisms from fans of the University of Oregon who expected him to play for the college because it’s his father’s Alma mater. He was subject to death threats, ridicule and violence as a result of his decision.

He went on to play for UCLA in the Pac-10 conference championship, which they won. Love then led his side to the semifinals of the NCAA championship, where they were defeated by the Memphis Tigers. At the conclusion of the regular season, Love made the first-team All-American. He also received the Pac-10 Player and Freshman of the Year awards.

Kevin Love Professional/NBA Career & Highlights

Minnesota Timberwolves (2008–2014)

After just one season at UCLA, Love decided to enlist in the NBA Draft in 2008. The Memphis Grizzlies chose Love as its fifth overall pick. He was then traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves. He played in the NBA Summer League, where he toped the league in rebound 

In October 2008, Love debuted in the NBA. His performance in the first few months in the NBA was laudable and when he was snubbed during the NBA All-Star Weekend Rookie Challenge, it came as a surprise to several fans as well as his coach and teammates. He, however, continued in top form and in March 2009, he was awarded Rookie of the Month. At the end of his rookie season, he led all the rookies in the NBA having 29 double-doubles, making him the first Minnesota Timberwolves player to achieve the feat. He also became the first rookie since the 1984/85 seasons to lead the league in offensive rebound percentage. He was thus made the NBA All-Rookie Second Team and emerged sixth in the voting for the Rookie of the year.

After playing in the mini-camp for the USA National Team, Love was sidelined for the first 18 games of his sophomore season in the NBA as a result of a left-hand injury he sustained in a game during the pre-season. He returned to action in December 2009, before he was invited to participate in the NBA All-Star Weekend Rookie Challenge. In November 2010, Love emerged as the 19th player in the NBA to record a 30-30 in a game after he registered 31 points and 31 rebounds in a game against the New York Knicks. He also received his first All-Star selection. At the end of the season, he was named the NBA Most Improved Player. 

His 2011/12 season began with a dispute between him and the Timberwolves management over his contract. He eventually signed a four-year deal worth $62 million with the side. He became the first player since the 1992/93 season to record successive double-doubles after he registered 15 successive double-doubles. During the All-star weekend, Love defeated Kevin Durant to claim the Three-Point Shootout. At the end of the season, Love was named to the All-NBA second team and emerged 6th in the MVP voting.

After sustaining a fracture in his right hand in October 2012, Love returned to action for the 2012/13 season after just five weeks out of action. He continued playing in top form. In January 2013, he sustained fraction in his right hand and was set to be out of action for 10 weeks. In February 2014, Love registered the first triple-double of his career. Love’s performance in the 2013/14 season was laudable. He emerged as the first NBA player to record 2000 points, 100 three-pointers and 900 rebounds in a season. He was thus named to the All-NBA Second Team.

Cleveland Cavaliers (2014–date) 

In August 2014, Love was traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers. In his first season with Cleveland, Love made it to the playoffs for the first time in his career. He suffered a dislocated shoulder injury in the first round and was ruled out of action for the rest of the Playoffs. Cleveland Cavaliers made it to the finals of the NBA but were defeated by the Golden State Warriors. In June 2015, he became a free agent after he got out of his contract with the Cavaliers. Love then went on to sign a new contract with the Cavaliers in July 2015.

In the 2015/16 season, the Cavaliers returned in fine form to the playoffs, this time with Love in action. Though his performance was not as much as fans expected, he was instrumental in the Cavaliers win over the Golden State Warriors in the NBA finals. The win was the Cavaliers first NBA win in 52 years. Love’s 2016/17 campaign saw him named to the All-star game as a reserve. The Cleveland Cavaliers made it to the finals of the NBA again but lost to the Golden State Warriors.

Love’s performance improved in the 2017/18 season, and thus he led the Cavaliers to the NBA Finals, where they succumbed to the Golden State Warriors. After LeBron James departed to the LA Lakers, Love signed a four year deal with the Cavaliers worth $120 million in July 2018. After playing in the first four games of the 2018/19 season, Love had a toe injury which ruled him out of action for 50 games. In February 2019, he returned to action.

Kevin Love National Team Career

Love has played for the US National team in various competitions such as the 2010 FIBA World Championship, where he led the team to win gold. At the London 2012 Summer Olympics, Love was also a member of the undefeated squad that won gold. Love was set to play in the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup, but he withdrew.

Kevin Love Net Worth, Salary & Endorsement

Love has a net worth valued at $60 million. In 2019, he received as much as $24.4 million in salary. He has endorsement deals with Nike, Panini, American Greetings and Old Spice which is worth about $4 million.

Kevin Love Personal Life 

Love is the nephew of Mike Love, the co-founder of the Beach Boys band. His aunt is the famous triathlete, Kathleen McCartney Hearst.

Love has been outspoken in his struggles with depression. He has also been involved in the media, such as his appearance in the seventh episode of the final season of the HBO series Entourage. He also appeared on the cover of NCAA Basketball ’09.

He is connected to several philanthropic projects such as the Hoops for St. Jude charity program.

SEE MORE: Biography facts and profiles of famous NBA players


Facts Check

At SportyTell.com, we strive for fairness and accuracy.

If you have concerns about something that doesn’t look right in this Kevin Love Biography Facts, Childhood, Net Worth, Life, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

Leave a Reply