NBA champion Kevin Love wrote on Instagram that his stint with the Cleveland Cavaliers “was the most important and meaningful time” of his life.
Love played 489 regular-season games and 63 postseason games with the Cavaliers.
Love averaged 15.7 points, 9.2 rebounds and 2.2 assists and made two All-Star teams with the Cavaliers, who will retire his No. 0 jersey one day and hang it next to Nick Gilbert’s banner.
Last season, the Cavaliers paid tribute to Nick, the late son of owner Dan Gilbert, by raising a banner to the rafters at Rocket Arena.
Nick passed away at 26. He had neurofibromatosis (NF1), a disorder that causes noncancerous tumors to grow on the brain, spinal cord and skin. There is no cure.
We're headed down the stretch of the regular season! #LetEmKnow
"You can't go by with what happened in the regular season other than to say we're feeling really good and feel we have momentum going into the playoffs"
–@AmicoHoops pic.twitter.com/PaFJrbQfqu
— Full Court Cleveland (@FullCourtCLE) March 5, 2025
“It means a lot,” Nick’s brother, Grant Gilbert, told Bally Sports Cleveland about the tribute. “It’s very special to my family. But not only my family, everyone that knew Nick. And I think it’s important for us to come into the FieldHouse and see that banner and understand that he’s with us. But also for everybody else to understand the contributions to the organization and to the community that he made. And just being around and being an unwavering fan. And his spirit really driving us through the hard times and the bad times. So he’s with us for sure.”
The 36-year-old Love helped the Cavaliers win the 2016 title against the Golden State Warriors in seven games. Cleveland is the only team in NBA history to erase a 3-1 series deficit in the Finals.
Love, LeBron James and Kyrie Irving will forever be linked.
“I have so much love for that organization and city and Ohio,” Love said. “When you go on a Finals run with special players, that will always be a part of you. I’ll probably go home and look at my ring and reflect a little bit.”
A UCLA product, Love has career averages of 16.2 points, 10.0 rebounds and 2.3 assists with the Minnesota Timberwolves, Cavaliers and Miami Heat. He’s made five All-Star teams and two All-NBA teams.
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