It has been said that Love is trying to fully recover from a calf sprain he suffered in the 2020-21 season that left him sidelined for more than half of the games.
Some fans were very skeptical about Kevin Love being one of the 12 initially chosen players for team USA as he only played in 25 games the season before and averaged just over 12 points per game. The 32-year-old veteran did have experience on his side as he won a gold medal in the 2021 Summer Olympics in London, but that was a younger Kevin Love.
Kevin Love opts out of Olympic play
Team USA did not have a lot of options for big man as Los Angeles Lakers center Anthony Davis had withdrawn himself from consideration. Before removing himself from the team on Friday, Love was one of only two true big men on the roster, the other being the Miami Heat’s Bam Adebayo. Love is a quality shooter for a big man averaging a little over two three-point makes a game in every one of his past six NBA seasons. He also shot a solid 37 percent from behind the arc in his career.
Kevin Love has had a great career. Multiple all-star appearances, a championship in 2016 with the Cavaliers, and the opportunity to play with some of the all-time greats. But unfortunately, age and injuries have really slowed Love down and kept him from being the same player as he once was.
Love’s statement may have some Cleveland Cavaliers fans a bit worried about the NBA star’s condition heading into the 2021-2022 season. Love could possibly come out swinging next year after using the time he would have been in Tokyo to do more rehabilitation and working to make sure he can do everything in his power to help his team in the coming season. We will see if Love will be a better player or not when the Cavs are back in action at the start of next season.