“Dad, you fought for a long time…. even at the end as you continued to deteriorate – I still saw you as a Giant. My Protector. My first Hero.” The NBA world was left emotional for a few days back in late April after Kevin Love publicly mourned, and so did his fans and supporters, when the basketball star’s father left for the heavenly abode. Stanley Love, who also served as a professional NBA player (1971-1975), did not always have a good relationship with his son.

However, at the end, there was nothing but affection in the tribute Love paid to him. Even at times when he couldn’t have been there for his father, there was one person who always was: his mother. Now, on the special occasion of Mother’s Day, the player remembers his mother’s contribution during Stanley’s worst days.

A few hours ago, Kevin Love took to his official Instagram account to share a post. It featured a throwback photo of the future NBA player and his parents, back when he was just a baby and being carried in his dad’s hands. In the message, he highlighted how his Mom “perfectly exemplifies what it means to love someone in sickness and in health”.

Love revealed how it was his mother, Karen, who often neglected her self-care to put Stan’s physical and emotional well-being first when he was negotiating with his own mortality. Remaining unwavering in her support, his mother provided her husband with around-the-clock care, comfort, and unconditional love. This commitment was something Love described as “inspiring” and “remarkable”. To this day, he is figuring out how she did it.

“Mom remained present and by Dad’s side – massaging and kissing his forehead at the moment he passed. Even with the emotional weight of the situation, she held the family down the way only a strong Mother can. Showing great strength and emotional fortitude through one of life’s greatest tragedies” wrote Kevin Love. “My parents were together for over 48 years. And I have no doubt that Mom would do it all over again, if only to share a few more moments with, as she put it, the love of her life. I’m certain of it”.

Stanley did appreciate everything that Karen did for him. The Miami Heat forward also mentioned that his mother wrote his mother a letter just before his “health and hands began to fail him”.

Kevin Love’s father had passed away on April 27th of this year, at the age of 76. The reason was never mentioned publicly, although it was revealed that the former NBA player had been sick for a while. Kevin Love himself was away from the Heat lineup during his team’s playoff run because of ‘personal reasons’ related to his father.

After the player announced his father’s passing through Instagram through a loving tribute, several of his friends and/or peers, like former teammate Isaiah Thomas, Russell Westbrook’s wife Nina Westbrook, Former Sacramento Kings assistant coach Nancy Lieberman, Kevin Durant, and Olympic gold medallist Lindsey Vonn, sent their condolences. Tristan Thompson gave Love a warm embrace before Game 4 of the Cavaliers-Heat series, while Donovan Mitchell gave him a shout-out after the game. Now, Stanley Love was once again on the NBA player’s mind, only because of the dedication Karen had shown to him throughout his life and in his final days.

At times when he did not look up to his father, Kevin Love took inspiration from his mother. Her work as a nurse at Legacy Emanuel Medical Center, in Portland, once helped Kevin Love save his friend’s life by making a tourniquet. There are many things that the 36-year-old has to thank his mother for on this special day. Amongst them is also inspiring him to pursue the sport that has now given him a different level of wealth and fame.

Kevin Love’s mother and father once urged him to move his focus solely to basketball

Back in 2014, USA TODAY Sports reporter David Richard created a list of ‘10 Things You Didn’t Know About Kevin Love’. Amongst them was the unknown fact that Kevin Love had not just restricted his talents as an athlete to basketball during his time at Lake Oswego high school. In fact, he had desired to take up baseball and football on top of basketball. Kevin wanted to be a quarterback. According to reports, he also had a decent pitching arm. The Miami Heat star and Klay Thompson once played in the same Little League game. In Thompson’s own words, “He was a phenom as a kid. To be on the world stage with him, it’s really cool. It’s something I don’t take for granted”. Therefore, why didn’t he pursue any of those sports in the end? Two words: his parents.

“Love’s parents, Karen and Stan, said no, and wanted Kevin to focus on his basketball” wrote David Richard. “For that Mr. and Mrs. Love, Cavs Nation and all of Cleveland would like to thank you. They made a good choice from early on”.

Of course, Stanley Love would have wanted his son to focus on basketball. Having devoted 4 years of his life to 3 different NBA teams, he knew the effect that being an NBA player can have on you. Karen might have had her separate reasons. However, they weren’t revealed. Nevertheless, it really was the right call, as the player now reportedly holds a net worth of $25.7 million, is a championship title holder and a 5x NBA All-Star, and has built a good legacy for himself. When he will be getting ready for the next season, Kevin Love might once again thank his parents for the guidance that has led him to this point.