'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,/9j/2wBDAAYEBQYFBAYGBQYHBwYIChAKCgkJChQODwwQFxQYGBcUFhYaHSUfGhsjHBYWICwgIyYnKSopGR8tMC0oMCUoKSj/2wBDAQcHBwoIChMKChMoGhYaKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCj/wgARCAAHAAoDASIAAhEBAxEB/8QAFgABAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAMF/8QAFQEBAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAgP/2gAMAwEAAhADEAAAALaZF//EAB4QAAICAgIDAAAAAAAAAAAAAAECAxEABAUxEiIy/9oACAEBAAE/ANrcB5qKDXeKaWEoj69MrhZK9vP56VjWNGoYgNYvus//xAAVEQEBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAv/aAAgBAgEBPwCH/8QAFhEAAwAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAANB/9oACAEDAQE/AGQ//9k='%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Miami Heat veteran forward Kevin Love has only reached the NBA playoffs five times throughout his illustrious 15-year career. This fact is especially remarkable considering Love's initial six-year stint with the Minnesota Timberwolves (2009-2014) where he failed to make the playoffs. Additionally, he endured another stretch of four consecutive playoff-less years (2019-2022) with the Cleveland Cavaliers following the departure of his superstar teammate LeBron James.
However, when Love did secure a spot in the postseason, he demonstrated immense success, making it to the NBA Finals in all five of those seasons. One of his most memorable achievements was winning an NBA title as a key figure alongside James in 2016. This triumph became all the more remarkable as the Cavaliers rallied back from a 3-1 deficit in the finals against the formidable Golden State Warriors.
Reflecting on his first championship, Love was asked about his redemption from critics who questioned his ability to contribute to a winning team. He humbly responded that he never allowed himself to be influenced by external opinions, focusing instead on his own determination. Love emphasized that his primary motive for joining Cleveland was to chase a championship, making him grateful for achieving that goal during his first full playoff run after a setback due to injury in the 2015 playoffs.
“Well, I never got trapped by the dogma and living with the results of other people’s thinking,” Love said.
“I just continued to fight through and know that tonight I just had to have one great game. I was going to go out and be aggressive on both sides of the ball, as far as rebounding the basketball, and I was just told to rise above it. So, especially by my teammates, we knew what all of us were capable of.
“I mean, you talk about vindication, this is one of the main reasons that I came here and wanted to come here because I knew I’d have a great shot to win a title. Last year I felt like it was taken away from me, especially with the injury, and this year I got to have my first real playoff run and it ended the way I wanted to and we all wanted it to.”
How has Kevin Love fared in the NBA Finals?
As Kevin Love gears up for his fifth NBA Finals appearance and his first with the Miami Heat, he faces the Denver Nuggets in Game 1 of the finals scheduled for Thursday in Denver.
Although Love was only able to participate in three out of four previous finals due to injuries, he played a total of 15 games from 2016 to 2018. Throughout these games, the seasoned forward averaged 13.8 points, 9.5 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 1.3 steals, and 1.7 three-pointers per game, shooting at 38.8% efficiency.
Kevin Love will likely assume a diminished role for the Heat in the finals. Nevertheless, his invaluable experience as an NBA champion continues to provide Miami with an undeniable advantage.
Also read: What is Kevin Love’s NBA Playoffs record? Achievements of Miami Heat player explored
Guess the Bulls players in this quiz and it's not going to be easy!
