Tag: Kevin Love

11 former UCLA Bruins make the playoffs for NBA teams

A lot of familiar faces in the NBA Playoffs.

It is no secret that UCLA has a decorated history of producing NBA talent. From Bill Walton to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, there is no shortage of all-time players who played for the Bruins. This season, a whopping eleven players from the UCLA pipeline made the NBA playoffs.

Among those making the post-season are Lonzo Ball, Kyle Anderson, Jaylen Clark, Jrue Holiday, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Zach Lavine, Kevon Looney, Kevin Love, Norman Powell, Russell Westbrook, and Peyton Watson. The long list of former Bruins speaks to the program’s ability to churn out NBA talent.

For veterans Russell Westbrook and Kevin Love, who played together at UCLA, this could be their final NBA playoffs, with both trying to take home the title.

With the eleven players representing seven teams, there is a good chance that at least one of the former Bruins will hoist the Larry O’Brien trophy by the end of the season. The question is, who will it be?

The remaining active NBA players from each draft class between 2003 and 2010

It is truly remarkable that LeBron is still playing as well as he does.

With each passing season, more and more players in the previous generation of the NBA are graduating into retirement.

Some of the most recognizable and dominant players of a beloved era (e.g. Dwyane Wade, Carmelo Anthony, Chris Bosh, Dwight Howard, etc.) have recently ended their professional playing careers.

As the league begins to look increasingly different every year, we decided to look at which players drafted before 2011 are still active in the league. There are only 30 players who fit those qualifications and only 19 have started more than one game this season.

Here is a look at each NBA draft class and who remains active years later.

All data is provided via Stathead and is accurate as of publishing.

Watch: Klay Thompson work out with Kevin Love during offseason

During the offseason, Klay Thompson shared the court with Kevin Love for a workout.

A veteran member of the Golden State Warriors has been putting in work over the summer. In a recent video shared by NBA skills coach Chris Brickley, Klay Thompson was spotted getting in a workout with a couple of other NBA players in New York.

Along with Thompson and Kevin Porter Jr., veteran forward Kevin Love was on the floor working during the summer session. On top of getting up some smooth jumpers, Thompson connected with the Miami Heat forward for some pick and pops from deep.

Via @TheWarriorsTalk on Twitter:

Thompson and Love were childhood friends and played Little League together in Oregon. After battling in the NBA Finals, the two sharpshooters are linking up on the court for offseason workouts. After the workout, Thompson wrote about his connection with Love in an Instagram story.

Via @NBCSWarriors on Twitter:

This post originally appeared onΒ Warriors Wire! Follow us onΒ FacebookΒ andΒ Twitter!Β 

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USC NBA draft history: OJ Mayo was part of a Los Angeles gold rush in 2008

O.J. Mayo and Evan Mobley (No. 3) are tied for the highest #NBADraft pick number in USC men’s basketball history.

The 2024 NBA draft is likely to have a significant Pac-12 presence in the first several picks. USC’s Isaiah Collier and Colorado’s Cody Williams are both projected to be top-five selections by multiple outlets and experts.

If USC and the Pac-12 both live up to the hype in men’s basketball this coming season, Collier might have an outside chance at being a top-three pick. If Collier is able to become the No. 3 pick in the 2024 NBA draft, he would tie two former USC stars in the annals of NBA draft history.

Evan Mobley, as you likely know, was the No. 3 pick in the 2021 NBA draft. He and O.J. Mayo are the highest draft picks in USC men’s basketball history.

Mayo was part of a special Pac-12 NBA draft class in 2008, with the city of Los Angeles dominating the top of the draft board.

Mayo was the third pick of the 2008 draft, going to the Memphis Grizzlies. The Grizz sure wish they had taken another college star from Los Angeles, the man who went at No. 4 to the Seattle SuperSonics, who relocated to Oklahoma City and became the Thunder just six days after the 2008 draft.

Kevin Love, who just played in the 2023 NBA Finals with the Miami Heat and has been part of numerous conference champions in his lengthy NBA career, went at No. 5 in the 2008 draft to the Minnesota Timberwolves.

This is the only time in history that the Pac-12 has produced three top-five draft picks. It is one of two instances in the 21st century in which the Pac-12 created three of the top seven NBA draft picks.

We will see what Isaiah Collier does in his upcoming season at USC. That will shape his NBA draft outlook for 2024.

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Watch: Kevin Love surprises Cameron Boozer with Gatorade National Player of the Year award

Watch Miami Heat forward and five-time NBA All-Star Kevin Love surprise Boozer with the award.

The top boys high school basketball player in the country this year is Christopher Columbus (Fla.) power forward Cameron Boozer, who has been named the Gatorade Boys Basketball National Player of the Year.

Watch Miami Heat forward and five-time NBA All-Star Kevin Love surprise Boozer with the award.

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The son of another former All-Star power forward – Carlos Boozer – Cameron averaged 21.1 points, 11.2 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 2.0 blocks and 1.3 steals per game this past season while leading his team to a state championship.

Boozer is ranked as the No. 1 overall prospect in the class of 2025. So far he has offers from Duke, Michigan, Miami, Florida State and Arkansas.

More basketball stories

USA TODAY Sports boys basketball Super 25

Watch: LeBron James proud of Bronny’s latest accolade

Jarrett Allen hilariously joked about Kevin Love just going to the corner store before his buyout

This response from Jarrett Allen was absolutely *hilarious.*

Cleveland Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen didn’t hold back his funny side when discussing the recent buyout of his former teammate Kevin Love.

After Love and the Cavs negotiated a buyout that cleared the way for Love to join the Miami Heat, Allen delivered an absolutely hilarious answer to just how aware he was of the situation as it was unfolding.

It seems that Allen joked that he facetiously heard Love was “going for milk and cigarettes,” and that “he just never came back.”

If there was such a thing as a perfect response to an interview question, we’re pretty sure this would be it.

Since Allen certainly won’t be standing by the door at the Cleveland facility waiting for Love to come back, you’d guess that the Cavs probably had some idea that Love’s time with the team was coming to a close.

However, we’re sure Love and Allen will miss playing with each other. Maybe Love will bring back a carton of milk when the two see each other again. Just not cigarettes, those are bad for you.

Report: Kevin Love to sign with Heat rather than Sixers after buyout

Kevin Love will sign with the Miami Heat rather than the Philadelphia 76ers after his buyout from the Cleveland Cavaliers.

The Philadelphia 76ers are continuing to seek upgrades to their roster after trading Matisse Thybulle to the Portland Trail Blazers at the deadline. The deal not only included the Sixers acquiring Jalen McDaniels from the Charlotte Hornets, but it also brought them below the luxury tax line.

That allowed the Sixers to sign Dewayne Dedmon in the buyout market, but they also had their eyes on Kevin Love after his buyout from the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Love had it down to the Miami Heat and the Sixers, and he was set to have a conversation with Daryl Morey and the front office. However, he has decided he will join the Heat.

Love has lost a step defensively, but the former five-time All-Star can still shoot, and he would’ve been a nice addition to the bench. Instead, the Sixers will have to contend with him in Miami.

Report: Kevin Love to talk with Sixers before making buyout decision

Kevin Love plans to talk to the Philadelphia 76ers before making a buyout decision after leaving the Cleveland Cavaliers.

The buyout market is open and the Philadelphia 76ers are looking for roster upgrades to help in their title bide. They made their move at the deadline to get below the luxury tax, which allows them to be players in the buyout market.

The Sixers brought in veteran Dewayne Dedmon on a deal. Now, they might be looking at another veteran big man.

NBA champion Kevin Love is completing a buyout with the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Cavs have essentially benched the veteran as they focus on their other talented bigs.

The Miami Heat are the front-runners to acquire Love, but the former All-Star plans to talk to the Sixers as well. Philadelphia offers a good chance at winning another title this late in his career.

The Sixers would definitely benefit from bringing in Love to help their bench unit. He has lost a step defensively, but his shooting prowess would be a big addition.

Lakers may try to sign Kevin Love after the Cavaliers release him

The Lakers are rumored to be interested in signing Kevin Love, a former teammate of LeBron James, off the buyout market.

After making several trades last week, the Los Angeles Lakers possess a roster that seems deeper and more balanced than it has in at least two years.

They jettisoned Russell Westbrook, Patrick Beverley, Thomas Bryant, Juan Toscano-Anderson and Damian Jones while bringing in point guard D’Angelo Russell, big man Jarred Vanderbilt, center Mo Bamba and shooting guard Malik Beasley.

Los Angeles appears to have upgraded its 3-point shooting, which was its biggest weakness, while beefing up its frontcourt depth.

Still, the team could use one more serviceable center for depth.

Veteran big man Kevin Love is about to be released by the Cleveland Cavaliers, and the Lakers are reportedly one of a few teams interested in snagging him off the buyout market.

Via Hoops Wire (h/t Lakers Daily):

β€œSources told Hoops Wire the (Golden State) Warriors, Lakers and (Portland) Trail Blazers may be other teams with interest,” Sam Amico wrote.

At age 34, Love isn’t the force he was several years ago, but he can still grab rebounds, throw outlet passes and hit 3-pointers.

He is averaging 8.5 points and 6.8 rebounds in 20.0 minutes per game this season while shooting 35.4 percent from downtown.

Of course, Love played four seasons with LeBron James, and given James’ influence on Lakers personnel decisions, the onetime University of California, Los Angeles standout could very well end up with the Purple and Gold.

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Five best players on buyout market Lakers should look at

Will the Lakers sign someone from the buyout market? If so, one of these five men could fit the bill.

The Los Angeles Lakers’ roster looks a lot better, or at least a lot more balanced and cohesive, after the three deals they made in the final hours before last Thursday’s NBA trade deadline.

At least on paper, they have more outside shooting, forward depth, a legitimate two-way center other than Anthony Davis and a point guard, D’Angelo Russell, who is a much better fit than Russell Westbrook.

But by no means do the Lakers have a complete roster.

They could use another legitimate 3-and-D wing, as well as one more center who can defend and rebound.

Now that the trade deadline is in the rearview mirror, teams are waiving players they deem superfluous, creating a buyout market that has some interesting bit players.

Los Angeles has one open roster spot available, and it could fill the spot with a player on the buyout market.

These five players could help the Lakers a little if they want to sign with the Purple and Gold.