The Minnesota Timberwolves finished this season at 40-42 in the NBA’s Western Conference. With a rash of injuries in Minny, the T-Wolves will miss the playoffs. Their primary focus this off-season will be re-signing their All-Star big man, Kevin Love. Love’s versatility as an inside/outside player, coupled with his solid rebounding ability and passing skills has led many to believe that he’s one of the best power forwards in the game. His skill set will have 29 other NBA’s salivating and finding ways to get him on their roster.
If Love’s future in the NBA is indicative upon how well he played this season in 76 games of action, Love will live long and prosper. Star Trek’s Captain Spock better watch out! Love averaged 26.2 points, 12.5 rebounds and 4.5 dimes this season. He also broke Kevin Garnett’s single season scoring record of 1,987 set during the 2003-04 season. Love also became the seventh player in NBA history to average at least 26 points, 12 rebounds, and four assists in a game.
To paraphrase U.S. Vice President Joe Biden: That’s a BIG DEAL!
Love joins an elite list of players who have also accomplished that feat: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Elgin Baylor, Wilt Chamberlain, Billy Cunningham, Bob McAdoo, and Oscar Robertson.
But we digress. The Source recently caught up with Kevin Love and in turn, he showed us love.
CHECK IT OUT:
The Source: You lost a ton of weight! What’s your secret?
Kevin Love: (Laughs) I trained my body and in a sense, it helped me be the player that I am today. I just continue to train right, eat right, chase basketball and that’s what I do!
The Source: Anthony Davis is a skilled big man in this league—kind of like you. Is there something in his game that is unique or is he just another skilled big man in the NBA?
Kevin Love: When he really figures out the game, he going to be a problem in this league! He’s so athletic, so long, understands the game, has a soft touch and he keeps farther away from the basket as far as his skill set goes. So he’s a guy that plays inside out, but he’s going to be able to step out and throw shots. He’s going to be a very very tough player for years.
The Source: Jared Sullinger had a breakout season earlier in the year. The Celtics have said that the next step is the ‘Kevin Love Plan’ to get into premium shape. Is that flattering when folks point to you and say that someone should take a page out of your book?
Kevin Love: Oh sure! I mentioned ‘chasing the game,’ that’s the best advice I got, and by any means, you’ve got to do what you’ve got to do to be the basketball player that you can become. I think he’s had a great year, he’s continuing to improve and if he gets in premium shape and able to run the floor and able to step out further from the basket, he’s another guy that’s going to be a problem.
The Source: The Minnesota Timberwolves are a good team, but you also were hit hard by injuries this season—not to mention you play in a tough Western Conference. How difficult has it been this season?
Kevin Love: You have to have a really good record to go to the playoffs. It’s tough when you get bit by the injury bug. I feel like the last three years, it’s like de ja vu. Pek’s [Nikola Pekovic] out with bursitis—a weird injury, Kevin Martin goes out with what I think was his left thumb. I think in order for us to develop our belief system, we have to have our guys.
Check out Kevin Love and the Minnesota Timberwolves’ season in review
