Whenever a player emerges as a dominant scorer in the NBA, fans often assume that such brilliance must have been evident even during his early days in high school basketball. Naturally, that was the same expectation from Kevin Love when he, at his peak, averaged over 26 points per game in the league. However, according to Michael Beasley, K-Love’s reputation as a scorer did not originate from his HS days.
During his appearance on the “All The Smoke” podcast, Beasley emphasized that Love only attained success during his high school days because he understood the concept of a team game. Kevin recognized early that he didn’t have to carry the bulk of the scoring load for his team to win games.
“Kevin Love wasn’t even that great in high school. (But) Kevin Love understood team ball before us. That motherf—ing fast break was easy, bro. I think we was in New York… bro, this n—a threw me a full-court oop, it was so easy. 360-D that mf,” Beasley said. “He get that rebound to Wes Unseld, that MF was popping. He understood that s—t when we was young.”
Beasley talks about when Love improved his scoring prowess
During his one-off season with UCLA in 2007-08, though, Kevin did show glimpses of being a powerful traditional big, averaging 17.5 points and 10.6 rebounds per game. However, his averages didn’t indicate how he could be among the best scorers in the NBA. However, after entering the league, his development was so rapid that Love went from scoring 11.1 points per night in his rookie season to averaging 20.2 points per game in his third campaign while also leading the league in rebounds to lift the Most Improved Player of the Year honor.
Beasley, who shared the court with Love during that 2010-11 campaign and even saw him average 26 points per game in the following year, lauded the latter’s improved confidence and footwork in the paint. Michael realized Kevin was unafraid to draw extensive contact while driving to the rim and dominantly rebounded the ball. Still, B-Easy made it clear that side of him came out for the first time when K-Love represented the Timberwolves.
“The scoring K-Love, I was in Minnesota when he turned into that,” Beasley continued with a stunned look on his face. “I watched that s—t, man.”
Love’s selflessness and game IQ are rarely appreciated
To most modern-day NBA fans, watching Love in his prime was indeed a spectacle. He averaged 26 points per game in two of the three seasons before leaving Minnesota, numbers that firmly cemented him among the league’s most dominant big men.
However, as Beasley rightly pointed out, the aspects of Love’s game that often go underappreciated are his selflessness and exceptional game IQ. From the frontcourt, Kevin had a knack for delivering blistering, perfectly timed outlet passes that sparked fast-break opportunities and swung momentum in his team’s favor.
This may be why Love could prove himself a valuable asset next to LeBron James and Kyrie Irving during their time together for the Cleveland Cavaliers. His role on the 2016 championship Cavs squad often goes unnoticed behind LeBron’s and Kyrie’s heroics, but Kevin also was the X-Factor from the shadows — a true winner.