Miami Heat forward Kevin Love penned a thoughtful tribute after the death of his father Stan.
After Love, 36, missed the Heat’s playoff loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers on Saturday for “personal reasons,” he shared a lengthy post on social media in honor of his dad on Sunday, April 27.
Love began, “Dad, you fought for a long time. 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 NBA star continued, “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.”
Related: Kevin Love and Kate Bock’s Relationship Timeline
Love called his father, who also played in the NBA, his “greatest teacher” and thanked him for teaching “admirable qualities like respect and kindness” and “ambition and work ethic,” in his caption.
NBA Photos/NBAE via Getty
Stan Love #34 of the Los Angeles Lakers in 1974
He continued by sharing that he and his father “had our differences” over the years. “I mourn the times I felt angry and isolated — my heart weighs heavy knowing we lost that time and can’t get it back,” he wrote. “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.”
Love said the “greatest gift” his father gave him was “teaching me that healing happens in your soul and that healing is there for the taking, even in the face of imminent death.”
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Kevin Love/Instagram
Stan Love
Love concluded his tribute by writing, “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.”
Stan was drafted 9th overall by the then-Baltimore Bullets (now the Washington Wizards) in the 1971 NBA Draft. He went on to play 226 games for the Bullets and the Los Angeles Lakers over four seasons, during which he averaged 6.8 points and 4.0 rebounds, per the NBA.
Kevin and the Heat will play the Cavaliers again in an elimination game on Monday, April 28 in hopes to keep their season alive.
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