Kevin Love is an accomplished basketball player – NBA champion, Olympic gold medalist, All-Star, All-NBA.
It’s enough to put him in the Basketball Hall of Fame one day.
Love, from this vantage point, is a Hall of Fame Human Being.
On Monday, Love told the world his father, former NBA player Stan Love, the brother of Beach Boys Mike Love and one-time Beach Boys employee, died.
It was a touching tribute on Instagram. But it was more than that, too. In 408 words, Love encapsulated what it means to love in the face of life and death; what it means to mourn while appreciating the unpredictable arc of life; and he showed how openness and vulnerability are strengths, not weaknesses.
“Dad, you fought for a long time,” Love began. “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.”
Love continued: “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. …
“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”
Beautiful, sad, profound, honest, compassionate. Everyone should read it.
An advocate for mental health in the NBA along with DeMar DeRozan, Love is one of the NBA’s gems. A father, husband, teammate and friend, Love is unafraid to reveal those aspects of his life. His meme game is a delight, whether he’s having fun with the Jimmy Butler-Miami Heat saga or the LeBron James-Stephen A. Smith quarrel.
The meaningful rumination of life and death, love, time, grief, forgiveness and reconciliation resonated. The post had more than 320,000 “hearts” and more than 6,000 comments as of Tuesday morning. The NBA’s inner circle, from players to media to agents, commented. Strangers did too.
The long embrace with former teammate Tristan Thompson at Monday’s Miami-Cleveland playoff game was touching. Cavs star Donovan Mitchell made sure to acknowledge Love in his postgame interview.
I hope Love feels the love and support, and I believe that he does. That’s what we all need sometimes to help us find our way.
