Miami Heat big man Kevin Love said he wants to emulate Heat legend Udonis Haslem during his next two seasons — and possibly beyond — in Miami.
Love agreed to a two-year deal worth over $8 million to remain with the Heat this offseason.
“I hope these two years give me a lot on the field and continue to be that contributor, but throughout that time and maybe after that, I would love to be in the role that OG had,” Love said of Haslem.
“I want to be selfless and just pay it forward.” I always say, plant a tree, watch it grow. And I hope to do that with our young guys and even me getting better.”
Haslem spent the end of his career playing sparingly for the Heat, but he was a highly respected voice and leader in the locker room. Love, an NBA champion from his time with the Cleveland Cavaliers, could bring similar veterans to the Heat as he nears the end of his own NBA career.
While Love may end up playing a bigger role on the floor than Haslem did at the end of his career, it’s noble that he wants to mentor and help other players on the roster.
Haslem appeared in fewer than 20 games in each of his last seven years with the Heat, while Love played 55 games for Miami last season. It’s hard to imagine his role being cut to less than 20 games, especially since the Heat lost forward Caleb Martin in free agency to the Philadelphia 76ers.
Love came to Miami in the 2022-23 season after he was bought out by the Cavs. He appeared in 21 games for the Heat that regular season and eventually helped them reach the NBA Finals as the No. 8 seed in the Eastern Conference.
Although Miami fell short in the NBA Finals against the Denver Nuggets, it was an impressive playoff run.
Last season, Love appeared in 55 games for the Heat, starting five. He averaged 8.8 points, 6.1 rebounds and 2.1 assists in 16.8 minutes per game. The veteran big proved he can still stretch the floor as well, shooting 44.0 percent from the field and 34.4 percent from 3-point range.
It’s clear the Heat value Love’s presence on the roster — otherwise they wouldn’t have re-signed him this offseason — and it’s nice to see the veteran want to make the most of his role.
For Heat fans, it’s amazing to see that the impact Haslem had on the organization during his playing days is still being felt, even now that he’s retired.