When Kevin Love was traded to the Jazz in the offseason, many expected it to be a brief stay. Either the 37-year-old would be rerouted elsewhere, or the two parties would agree to a buyout. Instead, nearly a month into the regular season, Love is receiving regular minutes for Utah.
Love began to see regular playing time once Walker Kessler got injured
Still just 24 years old, Walker Kessler averaged a double-double last season to go along with 2.4 blocks (also led the league with 4.6 offensive rebounds per game). Unfortunately, this season ended prematurely for the 7-footer after just five games. He underwent season-ending surgery due to a labral tear.
With that, Utah inserted Jusuf Nurkic into the starting lineup for Kessler. Likewise, Love was inserted into the rotation.
Before Kessler was sidelined, Love hadn’t seen any action on the court. Since then, he has appeared in eight of the nine games, only sitting out the second leg of a back-to-back. Love has averaged 14.1 minutes in those eight contests.
While he hasn’t shot the ball all that well (albeit on only 27 shot attempts), Love still grabs boards with the best of them, and he also has 18 assists.
Love recently spoke with D.J. Siddiqi of ESports Insider and talked about being a good veteran in the locker room for his younger teammates.
"I think that is extremely important, especially with a young team, Love said. I think sometimes people can maybe overvalue a veteran in a locker room, but I do believe that the Jazz honor that, and they’re appreciative of it as well. It makes me want to lean in even more and be the vet that, honestly, I never had."
The Jazz are currently 5-9, which surprisingly has them in the last play-in spot in the West at the moment. Keyonte George, Ace Bailey, Brice Sensabaugh, Taylor Hendricks, Isaiah Collier, Kyle Filipowski, and Walter Clayton see regular playing time for Utah, and all of them are under 23 years old.
Part of young teams when with Minnesota
Love stated that he never had a vet when he came into the league. Of course, his career began with the Timberwolves. Selected with the fifth pick in the 2008 NBA Draft, Love spent his first 6 seasons in Minnesota.
While Love put up outstanding numbers, his Timberwolves teams weren’t very good. His first few years were with teams that were rather young, although Minnesota did roster Kevin Ollie in Love’s rookie year. He turned 36 years old during that 2008-09 season.