Retirement? She ” still scares me » confides Kevin Love at the Washington Post. At 36 years old, the Heat interior has no plans to put his sneakers away. He will start his 17th season in the Big League being aware that his role is increasingly limited in the Florida game.
But the idea of following in the footsteps of Udonis Haslem, a veteran who kept an impact in the locker room (almost) without playing, does not seem to displease him. Because in recent years, the former Wolves and Cavs All-Star has also become known for his speaking out on mental health issues.
A very old question for him. When he arrived in Minnesota, after being drafted 5th overall in 2008, he was already battling depression. “ I didn’t have a normal high school experience », he confides, speaking of the attention paid to him, from a very demanding father, but also of the external rumor according to which he was going to fail at university.
At the time, there was no question of discussing his mental disorders which could compromise the development of his career. “ I was haunted by so many things I didn’t say or let out. I didn’t have the presence of mind or the way to speak. I had no emotional outlet outside of basketball. »
He wishes he was a better teammate to Ricky Rubio
And what an outlet for him who would become an All-Star three times with the Wolves, although he would not be able to get out of the doldrums. Looking back on this period of his career, he regrets not having been “ a better teammate and leader ». « I wish I was better for Ricky (Rubio) and for everyone », he says, speaking of the playmaker who will also talk about his demons later.
« We had a very young team and I didn’t really have a mentor. In Minnesota, I didn’t even know who I was. There were times when I was very depressed, and it became very ugly for me. Until I learned what sacrifice meant when I joined the Cavs, I wasn’t even able to know what that meant. I had a lot of selfish tendencies », admet Kevin Love.
In Cleveland, he was no longer the No. 1 option. He passed behind the other two members of the trio, LeBron James and Kyrie Irving. And regularly found himself targeted during the team’s complications. It is in this context that he experienced this panic attack in 2017 which he will speak publicly much later.
« My relationship with anxiety was very lousy. It got to the point where I suffered from agoraphobia and didn’t want to go out in public. I could play in front of 20,000 fans, but if I had to go out with a group of people, I would never feel comfortable. I was trying to put on a front, and it was very difficult to play this character. I always felt very tired and exhausted », he describes.
Break the taboo
Then the veteran began a serious turnaround by deciding to speak out, like DeMar DeRozan. A very good remedy for him, which helped to change the general climate within the league. Speaking out on the issue is now much less taboo.
« In the past, guys could compartmentalize and put things on the back burner. Now they are more receptive and understand that everyone has their own problems. They are willing to show empathy and listen to others », he testifies.
He adds: “ This work allowed me to be more comfortable in my skin. It makes me feel good to be able to help others, share my experiences and learn from them too. Coming full circle brings me great joy and gives me purpose. I’m originally from Oregon so I love planting seeds and watching them grow. »
Even if the time for retirement has not yet come, the inside is already wondering about the trace he will leave once he leaves. He then takes up a quote from the novelist Maya Angelou: “ People will never forget how you made them feel ». « That’s what I hope people say about me: he wasn’t perfect, but he had an impact on me because he was a good person. », term-t-il.
| Kevin Love | Percentage | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saison | Team | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | LF | Off | Def | To | 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 | 29 | 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 | 82.4 | 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 | CLE | 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 * | CLE | 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 | MIA | 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.
