Kevin Love has been through almost every version of the NBA. Championships. Rebuilds. Trades. Winning streaks. Losing streaks. But the latest turn in his career — a surprise move to the Utah Jazz — has him reflecting on where it all started, and where it all might end.
In a recent conversation with Esports Insider’s D.J. Siddiqi, Love opened up about his time with the Miami Heat, why he didn’t push for a buyout in Utah and the one destination that still holds a special place in his mind.
And that place is Cleveland.
Love Says Ending His Career With Cavaliers Is “Absolutely” on the Table
GettyFormer Cleveland Cavaliers teammates LeBron James and Kevin Love.
Love spent eight seasons with the Cleveland Cavaliers, won the franchise’s first championship in 2016 and became one of the faces of an unforgettable era. Despite moving on, that connection clearly hasn’t faded.
Love said he remains open to finishing his career in Cleveland and still considers the city one of the most meaningful chapters of his basketball life.
He explained that no matter what happens next, “Cleveland is a near and dear place to me,” adding that he will “always go back” because of how the franchise treated him throughout his tenure.
He also admitted that the end of his career will be a “year by year” decision rather than one big announcement. For now, he’s focused on contributing in Utah. But the door to a Cavaliers reunion is very much open.
Love Reflects on Unexpected Trade From Miami to Utah
The trade that sent Love to Utah shocked him and his family. It came in a three-team deal with the Heat, Jazz and Los Angeles Clippers. Love landed in Salt Lake City while Norman Powell went to Miami.
“It was definitely unexpected. I thought that I would end my career there,” Love said about his time in Miami.
He added that he and his family had “laid roots” in the city and believed Miami would be his final stop. But once Jimmy Butler was dealt midway through last season, the Heat’s direction changed and so did Love’s place in the rotation.
Still, Love said he fully understands why the Heat made the move, noting that Powell’s arrival made the team better. “They got Norman Powell. They got better,” he said, while admitting that the departure “still stung in the few weeks after.”
Why Love Didn’t Request a Buyout From the Jazz
Many expected Love to push for a buyout the moment he landed in Utah. Instead, he embraced the situation, praising the Jazz and the role they’ve given him.
“The organisation has been amazing,” Love said, describing Utah as a “great experience” from owner Ryan Smith all the way through the staff.
He also acknowledged that Walker Kessler’s season-ending injury opened up more minutes for him, but noted that his leadership would matter even if he wasn’t playing.
“My role is being a veteran leader, a sound voice. Somebody that preaches accountability and shows what professionalism looks like every day,” Love explained.
The Jazz are one of the youngest teams in the league, and that responsibility has given Love purpose deep into his eighteenth NBA season.
“It makes me want to lean in even more and be the vet that, honestly, I never had,” he added.
A Future That Could Connect Back to the Cavaliers
GettyFormer Cavaliers forward, Kevin Love.
Love isn’t finished. He still loves the game and plans to keep playing as long as a team wants him and he can add value.
But the idea of a Cleveland return carries weight.
Whether it happens or not, Love says he will “always go back” to the place where he won a title, built a legacy and became part of one of the NBA’s defining championship teams.
For now, he is embracing Utah, guiding a young roster and doing what veterans do: providing stability in a league that rarely offers it.
But the possibility is there. The ending might look familiar. And it is easy to see why that idea carries weight.
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