Cleveland Cavaliers big man Kevin Love has earned NBA All-Star reserve honors, marking his second straight invitation to the event and fifth of his career.
Love, now 29 years of age, is said to be also interested in this season’s 3-point contest, according to a report from Joe Vardon of Cleveland.com.
“(Love) told cleveland.com he would likely accept because it would be his first time in the 3-point contest as a Cavalier and he’d frame his jersey.”
As most hoops fans know, Love won the 3-point shootout in 2012 as a member of the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Love is enjoying a solid season with the Cavs. In his 45 games played during their 2017-18 campaign, the former UCLA standout has turned in averages of 18.4 points on 45.9 percent shooting from the field (39.9 percent from beyond the arc), 9.4 rebounds, and 1.6 assists per game.
News of Love’s All-Star selection comes at a turbulent time for Cavs fans. The Cavs held an “air-it-out” team meeting on Monday — a talk in which Love (and other players) took a lot of criticism.
The next day (Tuesday), the Cavs fell in San Antonio to the Spurs, 114-102. Love recorded 10 points on 4-of-8 shooting and 11 rebounds in his 27 minutes of playing time. His teammate, LeBron James, reached the 30,000 point plateau.
“It’s not always, I guess, fun to go through that but it’s exciting to be a part of 30,000 points,” Love said. “That’s greatness epitomized right there. Like I mentioned, rarified air. Bron being the captain of the All-Star team, me making the All-Star team and then having the meeting and seeing you guys, it’s just all part of it. Some things are better than others.”
James has been voted into captaincy for this season’s All-Star Game, which means he could select Love as a teammate. Whether or not that idea comes to fruition remains to be seen. Sides will be announced on Thursday.
“Listen, he’s going to try to assemble the best team possible,” Love said, referring to James. “I mean, he probably has a future in that so I assume he’ll put together a damn good team. But so will Steph (Curry). Those are two smart guys.”