Miami Heat forward Kevin Love (42) warms-up before a game against the Phoenix Suns at Kaseya Center. Jim Rassol Jim Rassol-Imagn Images
Kevin Love has been away from the Miami Heat for most of the past month because of personal reasons. On Sunday night, Love announced the passing of his father.
Love went to Instagram and announced the death of his father, former NBA player Stan Love, through a heartfelt message. Stan Love was 76.
“Dad, you fought for a long time,” Love posted on Instagram on Sunday. “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.
Over the years my Dad and I had our differences. I mourn the times I felt angry and isolated – my heart weighs heavy knowing we lost that time and can’t get it back. But our division led to me finding myself. I was running from something but that time away provided the wisdoms of forgiveness and reconciliation. And an unwavering sense that he loved me through it all, in every moment. ‘The best last lesson one generation can teach the next: how to die with peace about how you’ve lived.’ This may be my Dad’s greatest gift. Teaching me that healing happens in your soul and that healing is there for the taking, even in the face of imminent death. Dad loved his family unconditionally and left his children with one of life’s great lessons.
As the memories stream down my face I feel as if I can see it all so clearly now. It’s a [expletive] up fact of life that towards the end, your own life or someone else’s, things that once seemed so complicated and confusing now seem transparent.
Like all of us, my Dad was imperfect. But despite his flaws, and my own, we are a successful story of father and son. A never ending bond, rooted in love, that will forever remain eternal.
Dad, I’m so proud to be your son. My only hope is that you’re proud of me. It was all I ever wanted. Thank you for everything.
I love you.
Your son,
Kevin”
Stan Love played professional basketball for four years before retiring in 1975. He was the ninth overall pick in the 1971 NBA draft, chosen by the Baltimore Bullets. He was also selected by the Dallas Chaparrals in the 1971 ABA Draft.
Along with being Kevin Love’s father, Stan Love is also the younger brother of Beach Boys singer Mike Love.
Kevin Love was away from the Heat for the final 10 games of the regular season because of personal reasons. He briefly rejoined the team for the Heat’s first play-in tournament game against the Chicago Bulls on April 16, but then again left the team to attend to personal reasons and has been away from the Heat ever since.
Kevin Love, who has already been ruled out by the Heat for Game 4 of its first-round playoff series against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Monday night at Kaseya Center, missed 22 games this regular season because of personal reasons. It began when Kevin Love was unavailable for the first five games of the season due to personal reasons.
“We could use his voice,” Heat captain Bam Adebayo said Saturday when asked if the team misses Kevin Love’s leadership after falling behind 0-3 to the Cavaliers in the best-of-seven first-round playoff series. “But K-Love is going through a lot right now. We text him here and there. But understanding we still got to play the game, still got to figure it out, still got to figure out how to get one win. And that’s what we’ll worry about on Monday.”
Kevin Love, 36, is in his 17th NBA season. He has taken on more of a leadership role with the Heat after dropping out of the team’s rotation this season.
“We feel for him and what he’s going through right now,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said Wednesday when asked about Kevin Love. “So the thoughts are more about that, being there for him. We all know how much he means to us in our locker room, but this transcends that.”
