Tristan Thompson Comforts Kevin Love After Death of His Dad

Originally appeared on E! Online

Tristan Thompson will always be on Kevin Love’s team.

Just hours after the Miami Heat forward shared his father Stan Love died at the age of 76, his former teammate and current Cleveland Cavaliers center-forward comforted him on the court before their April 28 playoff game.

In a video shared to social media by Bleacher Report, the longtime friends could be seen sharing a long, heartwarming embrace amid all the pre-game noise and activity around them.

Because even back in 2020, before the 36-year-old signed with the Miami Heat in 2023, he could barely fathom separating from his good friend amid rumors that Tristan was being traded to another team.

“That’s my brother, man,” Kevin told Cleveland.com of his teammate at the time. “I would always go to war with him. I would run through a wall for him.”

“He’s the best,” he continued. “Just the type of guy he is, he’s a lifelong friend of mine, so it would be tough to see him go. I would like to have him around selfishly, but if there’s a better situation out there for him, going to make him happier, have a chance to win a championship, then so be it.”

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But even though they ultimately ended up on competing teams, their bond remains stronger than ever. Especially as Kevin navigates the devastating the loss of his dad—who was a former NBA player for the Baltimore Bullets and the Los Angeles Lakers.

And just hours before the game, Kevin penned a heartbreaking tribute that encapsulated “a success story of father and son.”

Photo by David Liam Kyle/NBAE via Getty Images

“Dad, you fought for a long time,” Kevin—who shares two kids with wife Kate Bock—captioned an April 28 Instagram post, alongside an old picture of his dad as well as a photo of their hands intertwined. “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.”

“You have undoubtedly been my greatest teacher,” he continued. “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.”

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Tristan Thompson Comforts Kevin Love After Death of His Dad

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