Kevin Love has had a down year with the Cleveland Cavaliers. Love averaged 12.2 PPG and 7.4 RPG while shooting 40.9% from the field and 36.5% from beyond the arc. Even though his efficiency numbers aren’t stellar, Kevin Love still has a skill set that can help most playoff teams.
Team USA’s selection of Kevin Love for the national team will allow him to play competitive basketball in the Olympics. In an article by Joe Vardon, it is mentioned that coach Gregg Popovich believes that playing with Team USA could rejuvenate Kevin Love’s career. If Kevin Love is engaged and healthy, then there is no doubt that he can be a contributor on a winning team: after all, he is a former All-Star and NBA champion.
Popovich said Team USA planned to “work (Love’s) ass off for the next four or five weeks” and stated emphatically that he believed the experience could rejuvenate Love’s career. Love agreed, in less certain language, though it is clear he knows that in order to get what he wants, he has to start playing better.
There is no question that Kevin Love would thrive in a different environment to the Cavaliers, though it remains to be seen whether he will be able to move on from the franchise. Hopefully, international basketball will help Kevin Love get back on track, and it seems as though Gregg Popovich believes the experience will be beneficial.
