Hey there, basketball fans! Imagine a guy who’s as comfortable draining three-pointers from way downtown as he is battling under the basket for loose balls. That’s Kevin Love for you – a big man with a soft touch and an even bigger heart. If you’ve ever watched an NBA game and marveled at a power forward who could score, rebound, and even dish out assists like a point guard, chances are you’re thinking of Love. Born on September 7, 1988, in sunny Santa Monica, California, Kevin grew up in a family full of hoops royalty. His dad, Stan Love, played in the NBA, and his uncle? None other than Mike Love, the frontman for The Beach Boys. Talk about a soundtrack to success!
Kevin’s story isn’t just about stats on a page; it’s about grit, growth, and giving back. From his days as a highly touted college star at UCLA to becoming a key piece in NBA championship puzzles, Love has entertained us for over 15 years. And as of October 2025, he’s still lacing up for the Miami Heat, proving that experience and smarts can keep you in the league longer than raw athleticism alone. In this article, we’ll dive into his incredible career, break down those eye-popping stats (with a handy table to make it all crystal clear), and chat about the highs, lows, and everything in between. Whether you’re a die-hard Wolves fan or just tuning in for the drama, grab a seat – this is Kevin Love’s career, unfiltered and unforgettable.
From College Courts to NBA Draft Night: The Early Days
Let’s rewind to Kevin’s roots. Growing up in California, he was a phenom at Lake Oswego High School in Oregon, where he led his team to back-to-back state titles. But it was at UCLA that Love really exploded onto the scene. As a freshman in 2007-08, he averaged 17.5 points and 10.6 rebounds per game, earning consensus National Player of the Year honors. That Bruins squad made it to the Final Four, and Kevin was the heartbeat of it all – a 6’10” force who could stretch the floor and stuff the stat sheet.
Come the 2008 NBA Draft, the buzz was electric. The Memphis Grizzlies snagged him fifth overall, but in a classic draft-night twist, they shipped him to the Minnesota Timberwolves for O.J. Mayo. Minnesota got the steal of the century. At just 20 years old, Love stepped into the pros with that signature bushy beard and a game that screamed “future star.” Little did fans know, he was about to rewrite the playbook for what a modern big man could be.
His rookie year (2008-09) was solid – 11.1 points and 9.1 rebounds off the bench – but it was just the appetizer. By his second season, Kevin was experimenting with the three-ball, hitting 33% from deep. He wasn’t just a bruiser; he was evolving into a stretch four before the term was trendy. Off the court, he was already the affable guy cracking jokes in interviews, making basketball feel approachable for kids everywhere.
The Minnesota Miracle: Turning Heads in the North Woods
Ah, the Timberwolves era – where Kevin Love became a household name and Minnesota’s most exciting thing since Prince. From 2008 to 2014, Love transformed from promising rookie to All-NBA beast. His third year (2010-11) was the breakout: 20.2 points, a league-leading 15.2 rebounds, and the NBA’s Most Improved Player award. He grabbed 64 double-doubles that season, a ridiculous number that had analysts comparing him to legends like Moses Malone.
But 2011-12? That was Kevin’s masterpiece. Averaging 26.0 points and 13.3 boards, he finished sixth in MVP voting and snagged All-NBA Second Team honors. He kicked off the year with 15 straight double-doubles, channeling inner Hakeem Olajuwon. His shooting touch was surgical – 37.2% from three on decent volume – and he became the face of a franchise desperate for wins. Jersey sales skyrocketed; kids in Minneapolis were rocking No. 42 like it was the second coming of KG.
Injuries nipped at his heels in 2012-13 – a broken hand sidelined him after just 18 games – but he bounced back fiercer in 2013-14. Dropping 26.1 points and 12.5 rebounds, Love etched his name in the history books as the first player ever to hit 2,000 points, 900 rebounds, and 100 threes in a single season. He notched his third career triple-double that year, with 24 points, 16 boards, and 10 assists against Memphis. Yet, despite the individual brilliance, the Wolves hovered around .500. Rumors swirled: Was Kevin ready for a contender? By summer 2014, he was traded to Cleveland in a blockbuster deal for the ages, joining LeBron James and Kyrie Irving. Minnesota fans’ hearts broke, but man, what a ride it had been.
Cavs Glory: Championships, Injuries, and Big Moments
Fast-forward to Cleveland: Kevin Love’s chapter with the Cavaliers from 2014 to 2023 was a rollercoaster of epic proportions. He arrived as the final piece of the Big Three, but fitting in wasn’t seamless. His first year (2014-15) saw him average 16.4 points and 9.7 rebounds, but a dislocated shoulder in the playoffs against Boston cut his run short. Still, the Cavs made the Finals, falling to Golden State’s dynasty in six.
Then came 2016 – the stuff of legends. Love embraced a supporting role, averaging 16.0 points and 9.9 boards in the regular season. But in the playoffs? He was clutch. In the Finals rematch against the Warriors, down 3-1, Kevin dropped 25 points in Game 5 and helped force a Game 7 miracle. The Cavs won the title – Cleveland’s first ever – with Love’s versatility key in beating the 73-win Dubs. He hoisted the Larry O’Brien Trophy, tears in his eyes, proving he could win the big one.
The next few years were a mix of All-Star shine (he made it seven straight times through 2018) and frustrating injuries. A knee surgery in 2019 wiped out his summer, and COVID-shortened seasons didn’t help. By 2020-21, he was a shell of his former self, averaging just 12.2 points. But Kevin adapted like a pro – sliding to the bench in 2021-22, where his veteran savvy earned him second in Sixth Man voting. Off the court, he launched the Kevin Love Fund in 2018, championing mental health after opening up about his own struggles with anxiety. In a league full of tough guys, that vulnerability made him a role model for millions.
Midway through 2022-23, Love waived his no-trade clause and headed to Miami, chasing another ring with the Heat. It was a sign: the scoring machine was now the wise sage, ready for whatever came next.
Heat Waves and Beyond: The Veteran Chapter
Miami suited Kevin like a warm beach towel. Joining Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo in 2022-23, he brought spacing and IQ off the bench. That Sixth Man of the Year win? Well-deserved – 8.2 points and 6.4 rebounds in limited minutes. The Heat shocked the world, reaching the Finals as an 8-seed, though they fell to Denver. Love’s poise in that run? Priceless.
Fast-forward to 2023-24: More of the same, with 8.8 points and 6.1 boards in 55 games. He was the ultimate glue guy, hitting open threes and mentoring the young guns. And in 2024-25, even at 36, he’s still contributing – averaging 5.3 points in 23 games so far, proving father time hasn’t caught up yet. Rumors swirl about retirement, but Kevin’s all about longevity. He’s played for four teams now (wait, five if you count that brief Cavs-Heat split), amassing over 15,000 points and 9,500 rebounds. Beyond stats, he’s an advocate – for mental wellness, for community coats drives, for making the NBA a kinder place.
What ties it all together? Love’s ability to reinvent himself. From 26-and-13 monster to championship contributor to elder statesman, he’s shown that basketball is as much mental as physical. And hey, with family ties to the Beach Boys, his career’s been one harmonious jam session.
The Numbers Game: Kevin Love Career Stats Unpacked
Alright, let’s get to the meat – the stats that tell Kevin’s story better than words ever could. Basketball-Reference has him pegged at 952 games over 17 seasons (through early 2025), averaging 16.2 points, 10.0 rebounds, and 2.3 assists. That’s elite company – only a handful of bigs hit double-digit boards for that long. His true shooting? A crisp 57.9%, thanks to that deadly mid-range and three-point stroke (36.9% career from deep on 4.1 attempts).
But numbers alone don’t capture the double-doubles (a whopping 413!) or the 27 games with 25+ points, 15+ rebounds, and 3+ threes – an NBA record. He’s got three triple-doubles, 51 as his scoring high (against OKC in 2017), and 31 boards in a single game. Advanced metrics love him too: 20.8 PER, 94.9 win shares. Playoffs? 145 games, 14.8 points, 9.5 rebounds – including that ’16 ring.
For the full picture, check out this comprehensive table of his regular-season per-game averages. It’s straightforward: season by season, so you can see the peaks (hello, 2011-14) and the savvy shifts later on. I’ve kept it simple – no jargon, just the good stuff.
| Season | Age | Team | Games Played (G) | Starts (GS) | Minutes Per Game (MP) | Field Goal % (FG%) | 3-Point % (3P%) | Free Throw % (FT%) | Rebounds Per Game (TRB) | Assists Per Game (AST) | Steals Per Game (STL) | Blocks Per Game (BLK) | Points Per Game (PTS) | Key Awards/Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008-09 | 20 | MIN | 81 | 37 | 25.3 | .459 | .105 | .789 | 9.1 | 1.0 | 0.4 | 0.6 | 11.1 | All-Rookie Team |
| 2009-10 | 21 | MIN | 60 | 22 | 28.6 | .450 | .330 | .815 | 11.0 | 2.3 | 0.7 | 0.4 | 14.0 | 6th Man Candidate |
| 2010-11 | 22 | MIN | 73 | 73 | 35.8 | .470 | .417 | .850 | 15.2 | 2.5 | 0.6 | 0.4 | 20.2 | Most Improved Player, All-Star, Rebounding Champ |
| 2011-12 | 23 | MIN | 55 | 55 | 39.0 | .448 | .372 | .824 | 13.3 | 2.0 | 0.9 | 0.5 | 26.0 | All-NBA 2nd, 6th in MVP |
| 2012-13 | 24 | MIN | 18 | 18 | 34.3 | .352 | .217 | .704 | 14.0 | 2.3 | 0.7 | 0.5 | 18.3 | Injury-shortened |
| 2013-14 | 25 | MIN | 77 | 77 | 36.3 | .457 | .376 | .821 | 12.5 | 4.4 | 0.8 | 0.5 | 26.1 | All-NBA 2nd, 1st with 2K pts/900 reb/100 3s |
| 2014-15 | 26 | CLE | 75 | 75 | 33.8 | .434 | .367 | .804 | 9.7 | 2.2 | 0.7 | 0.5 | 16.4 | Finals appearance |
| 2015-16 | 27 | CLE | 77 | 77 | 31.5 | .419 | .360 | .822 | 9.9 | 2.4 | 0.8 | 0.5 | 16.0 | NBA Champion |
| 2016-17 | 28 | CLE | 60 | 60 | 31.4 | .427 | .373 | .871 | 11.1 | 1.9 | 0.9 | 0.4 | 19.0 | All-Star |
| 2017-18 | 29 | CLE | 59 | 59 | 28.0 | .458 | .415 | .880 | 9.3 | 1.7 | 0.7 | 0.4 | 17.6 | All-Star |
| 2018-19 | 30 | CLE | 22 | 21 | 27.2 | .385 | .361 | .904 | 10.9 | 2.2 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 17.0 | Injury recovery |
| 2019-20 | 31 | CLE | 56 | 56 | 31.8 | .450 | .374 | .854 | 9.8 | 3.2 | 0.6 | 0.3 | 17.6 | Bubble playoffs |
| 2020-21 | 32 | CLE | 25 | 25 | 24.9 | .409 | .365 | .824 | 7.4 | 2.5 | 0.6 | 0.1 | 12.2 | Injury-limited |
| 2021-22 | 33 | CLE | 74 | 4 | 22.5 | .430 | .392 | .838 | 7.2 | 2.2 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 13.6 | 2nd in 6th Man |
| 2022-23 | 34 | CLE/MIA | 62 | 20 | 20.0 | .389 | .334 | .879 | 6.4 | 1.9 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 8.2 | Finals with Heat |
| 2023-24 | 35 | MIA | 55 | 5 | 16.8 | .440 | .344 | .787 | 6.1 | 2.1 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 8.8 | Bench role |
| 2024-25 | 36 | MIA | 23 | 9 | 10.9 | .357 | .358 | .696 | 4.1 | 1.0 | 0.7 | 0.2 | 5.3 | Ongoing season |
| Career | – | – | 952 | 710 | 28.6 | .438 | .369 | .828 | 10.0 | 2.3 | 0.6 | 0.4 | 16.2 | 5x All-Star, 2016 Champ |
(Data sourced from Basketball-Reference.com as of October 2025. Note: 2024-25 stats are partial.)
See how his minutes dipped later on, but efficiency held steady? That’s the mark of a smart vet. Rebounds stayed elite early, then became “just” great – still top-20 territory for bigs. And those free-throw percentages? Over 80% career – automatic at the line.
Playoff Peaks: When the Lights Get Bright
Playoffs are where rings are forged, and Kevin’s delivered. In 145 postseason games, he’s at 14.8 points, 9.5 rebounds, and 2.1 assists, shooting 42.6% from the field and 35.6% from three. His crowning jewel? That 2016 run, where he averaged 17.8 points and 10.2 boards against the Warriors. But don’t sleep on 2018 – 14.9 points in the Finals, including a 23-point explosion in Game 3.
With Miami, he added 6.5 points and 5.6 rebounds in 23 playoff games across 2023 and 2024. Not the box-score stuffer of old, but his spacing opened lanes for Butler’s heroics. Triple-doubles in the postseason? One, in 2015 against the Bulls. Kevin’s playoff PER sits at 18.9 – solid, especially considering the competition.
Beyond the Arc: Life Lessons from Love
Stats are cool, but Kevin Love’s legacy is deeper. He’s the guy who broke the silence on mental health in the NBA, sharing his panic attack story in 2018. That sparked conversations league-wide – from DeMar DeRozán to Kyrie Irving. His fund has donated millions to wellness causes, and he’s hosted coat drives for years. Married to model Kate Bock since 2022, with a baby on the way, Kevin’s balancing family, fame, and purpose.
At 37 now, is the end near? Maybe, but Love’s not rushing. “I’m enjoying the ride,” he said in a recent interview. Whether he retires in Miami or chases one more ring, his impact endures. He’s got over 15,400 points, 9,500 rebounds, and a championship – numbers that scream Hall of Famer someday.
Wrapping It Up: Why Kevin Love Career Stats Matters
From those Minnesota double-double marathons to Cleveland’s comeback glory and Miami’s surprise surges, Kevin Love Career Stats is a testament to adaptability. He’s not the flashiest – no dunk contests or trash-talk marathons – but he’s the reliable engine that keeps teams humming. For young fans, he’s proof you can be tough without being mean, talented without being arrogant.