UCLA Basketball: Insider Thinks Ex-Bruin Big Could Become Go-To Vet For Contender
The 2023-24 NBA season is almost upon us, and that means UCLA Bruins fans will get another chance to root for their guys in the pros. There are plenty of former UCLA players still left in the NBA, but one of them that is special to fans resides with the Miami Heat.
Big man Kevin Love re-signed with the Heat this summer after he spent the last part of last season with Miami. He helped them get to the NBA Finals, even though they fell just short of winning the ultimate goal.
The former Bruins big man, a five-time All-Star while with the Minnesota Timberwolves and Cleveland Cavaliers, is still set to play a big role for the team this season even in his basketball dotage. He seemed to fit in very well with Miami upon his arrival last spring. But one Heat insider believes Love was resigned for more than just his play on the court.
Ira Winderman of The Sun Sentinel believes that Miami brought Love back to help fill the role that is now left by the retirement of long-time forward Udonis Haslem. Haslem hardly played over the last few years with Miami, but the team kept him around to be a leader in the locker room.
Winderman sees the former Bruin playing in a similar role, this season. He explains:
“Which is among the reasons why bringing back Kevin Love made so much sense. As with Haslem, you have a player with championship pedigree who has seen it all, and who already has shown the ability to mentor inside the Heat locker room, (if Nikola Jovic isn’t dealt, the Jovic-Love dynamic in the locker room and on the practice court could be particularly intriguing). While Jimmy Butler and Kyle Lowry (if he isn’t dealt) also are veteran presences, neither is the type of player as likely to wrap an arm around a neophyte and guide such a player through a tough time. Having been benched in Cleveland (and even at times with the Heat), Love appears to have the type of Haslem-like humility to morph into such a role (while also still contributing).”
Love has been around the game for quite some time now, so he has seen it all. He won a championship with the Cleveland Cavaliers back in 2016 and has since gone through ups and downs.
He is the perfect type of player to help mentor the Heat and give them another leader on the team. Love knows what it takes to win at the highest level, and that is where the Heat ultimately are striving to go.
The former Bruin could see his playing time diminished this season, but he has always been a professional in how he handles things. He will be ready to go if and when called upon, and since he entered the NBA, he has made UCLA fans proud.
Here is to hoping that Love has another successful season!
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