Former NBA forward Stan Love — father of Miami Heat forward Kevin Love — died Sunday. He was 76.
Kevin, who has been away from the Heat for personal reasons, announced the news in an Instagram post Sunday. Kevin referred to Stan as his “greatest teacher” in the post.
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A portion of the post read:
“Dad, you fought for a long time. The hardest stretch being these past 6 months. The most painful to witness being these last few weeks. And even at the end as you continued to deteriorate – I still saw you as a Giant. My Protector. My first Hero.
The words we continuously heard from you in your last chapter were how blessed you’ve been to have such a loving family. And in return how much you’ve loved your wife and kids. Your only wish was to be at home surrounded by your family when you took your dying breath.
That breath came. And now it’s time to rest.
You have undoubtedly been my greatest teacher. A role often served by a Father figure. You taught me admirable qualities like respect & kindness. Humor & wit. Ambition & work ethic. Grit & aggressive will. The insight that failure brings. And that time is our most precious commodity.”
Kevin made the announcement while away from the Heat. But he was in the arena for Monday’s Game 4 in Miami against his former team, the Cleveland Cavaliers. Before the game, Love shared an emotional embrace with his former teammate and Cavaliers forward Tristan Thompson.
Love did not suit up for Monday’s game. After the game, Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell started his postgame interview with TNT by sharing his condolences with Love.
“First of all, I want to give my condolences to Kevin Love and his family,” Mitchell said. “That’s my dog. Been a part of a lot of success here in Cleveland. Big part of here.
“I saw he was here. I didn’t get to see him. My brother, I love you. Just keeping you in my prayers.”
Love played eight-plus seasons with the Cavaliers and won a championship alongside LeBron James in 2016. He played six-plus seasons with Thompson and his final half-season in Cleveland alongside Mitchell in Mitchell’s first year with the team.
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Love last played for the Heat on March 21 and left shortly after that game due to a personal matter. Love did briefly return to the Heat ahead of the team’s play-in game against the Chicago Bulls. He did not play in that game and took another leave of absence after the Heat’s win. Miami’s season is over after Monday’s Game 4 playoff loss to the Cavaliers.
The Heat released a statement Monday sharing their condolences over Stan’s death.
“The Miami Heat are deeply saddened to learn that Stan Love passed away this weekend after a long illness,” the team said in a statement, in part.
“We ask all of Heat nation, and basketball fans everywhere, to keep Stan Love, Kevin Love and their family and loved ones in their thoughts and prayers at this difficult time.”
Stan spent four seasons in the NBA. After being selected with the No. 9 overall pick in the 1971 NBA Draft by the Baltimore Bullets, Stan averaged 7.2 points and 4.4 rebounds in two seasons with the team. He joined the Los Angeles Lakers ahead of the 1973-74 season and spent a season and a half with the franchise. He finished his career with the San Antonio Spurs in the ABA. Stan’s brother, Mike Love, was also a founding member of the “Beach Boys.” Stan briefly served as what the Los Angeles Times described as a “human shield” for his cousin and fellow Beach Boys member Brian Wilson during the 1970s and 1980s, too.
“Those were chaotic years,” Stan said in 2019, via the Times. “It was 24 hours a day of worrying, trying to keep the creeps away. Fame and money in rock-and-roll — it was all a very dangerous area to live in.”
