Michael Jordan’s Son Mourns With Other NBA Legends as Kevin Love Announces Demise of Father

Before the Kamikaze Kids turned McArthur Court into a cauldron of chaos, it was an intense, lanky forward from Los Angeles who first lit the fire. Dubbed the “skinny surfer guy,” Stan Love led a wave of Californians stacking back-to-back 17–9 seasons and toppling No. 1-ranked UCLA in a seismic 1970 upset. In 1971, the Baltimore Bullets selected him ninth overall in the NBA Draft. Though his professional basketball career, which included stints with the Bullets, the Los Angeles Lakers, and the ABA’s San Antonio Spurs, lasted only four seasons, it showcased his physicality and unrelenting drive. But Stan’s story didn’t end when he stepped off the court.

Stan Love grew up in Baldwin Hills in a household that embodied both working-class resilience and musical stardom. His father, Milton Love, was a sheet metal laborer, while his older brother, Mike Love, helped found one of the most iconic American bands of all time — The Beach Boys. Towering at 6’9″, Stan became a protective figure in the Beach Boys’ orbit, once acting as a bodyguard to cousin Brian Wilson during turbulent years. But perhaps his most lasting legacy lies in fatherhood: he raised Kevin Love, who would follow in his footsteps and rise to NBA stardom.

Stan prepared Kevin for the rigors of the NBA, where he became a five-time All-Star and an NBA champion. But their relationship was complex at times. In a 2019 interview on the Yahoo program “Dear Men,” Love reflected on how his father’s upbringing influenced their emotional communication. “I was always taught to suppress it; I had my playbook when I was young where you never show your emotions,” he said. However, over time, their relationship evolved, and it was reflected as Kevin bid an emotional farewell to his father, who passed away at the age of 76.

“Dad, you fought for a long time. The hardest stretch being these past 6 months. The most painful to witness being these last few weeks. And even at the end as you continued to deteriorate – I still saw you as a Giant. My Protector. My first Hero… Your only wish was to be at home surrounded by your family when you took your dying breath. That breath came. And now it’s time to rest,” he wrote in a lengthy Instagram caption.

“Over the years my Dad and I had our differences. I mourn the times I felt angry and isolated – my heart weighs heavy knowing we lost that time and can’t get it back. But our division led to me finding myself. I was running from something but that time away provided the wisdoms of forgiveness and reconciliation. And an unwavering sense that he loved me through it all, in every moment,” he further added, giving an insight into their dynamic.

Meanwhile, Kevin wasn’t alone in paying tributes to his father. The NBA community stood as one behind him, and messages of heartfelt condolences poured in. Michael Jordan’s son, Jeffrey, also shared a simple message, writing, “last lesson…” #bars.”

In these few months of impending sorrow, Kevin Love decided to express the fond love he shares for Stanley Love. In January, he donned his father’s 1968-1969 University of Oregon varsity jacket as he walked into Moda Center for the Miami Heat’s game against the Trail Blazers. Being a Bruin, it confused several of his former teammates. However, in his interview with GQ, he revealed the significance of paying homage to his father.

“He was the person that handed me the ball before I could walk, and helped me establish my first love, which is basketball. It was just my way of showing love to my father and keeping his memory alive of how great of a basketball player he was and how beloved of a player he was at the University of Oregon, so I know he loves seeing that,” Kevin Love shared.

During his run with the Oregon Ducks from 1968 to 1971, Stan Love was a scoring machine. He shattered the school’s single-season scoring record, a mark that stood untouched for two decades, and torched Pac-8 opponents with a blistering 27.3 points per game in conference play. Love remains the only Duck to average over 20 points in two separate seasons, and his career average of 21.1 points per game would still top the all-time list if the three-point line had existed during his era. Love entered the Oregon athletics hall of fame in 1994.

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Given his success with Oregon, it was a surprise that his NBA career lasted only four years, but his son believed the era he was in and his association with The Beach Boys hampered his progress.

Back then, big men were expected to stick to a defined role. Rebounding, posting up, and anchoring the defense were their only duties. But Kevin believed his dad’s game would have flourished in today’s more versatile era. Apart from this, Kevin thought that being on tour with The Beach Boys during the summer was another reason behind his shortened NBA career.

The problem he had, in the summertime, he would travel with the Beach Boys with my uncle, and then he played for the LA Lakers. And so finding balance between the two, especially when rock ‘n’ roll is at its peak, in that generation right after the 60s, I imagine it must have been tough to find a semblance of balance,” Kevin said in an interview with Graham Bensinger in 2022.

His genes surely passed on to Love, who became one of the most prolific rebounding forwards during his peak years. And now, as he reminisces on Stan Love’s impact, all Kevin Love can feel is pride. “Like all of us, my Dad was imperfect. But despite his flaws, and my own, we are a successful story of father and son. A never ending bond, rooted in love, that will forever remain eternal. Dad, I’m so proud to be your son. My only hope is that you’re proud of me. It was all I ever wanted. Thank you for everything. I love you,” he further wrote in his heartfelt tribute.

The NBA community gathered in their support for Kevin, in this moment of grief, with his former teammate Tristan Thompson sharing an emotional embrace with him.

NBA community gathers in support of Kevin Love after father’s passing

A range of support came to the surface once Kevin Love shared his raw emotions. On Monday, ahead of the Miami-Cleveland playoff game, Thompson gave Kevin a long, consoling hug. The moment perfectly captured their bond.

Others, such as former Lakers forward Matt Barnes, also came to Love’s support. “Condolences,” he wrote as Love poured out his emotions in the Instagram post. The likes of Steve Nash and Rudy Gay left heart emoticons to offer strength to the Heat forward. Meanwhile, Isiah Thomas reflected on his memory of Stan Love.

“I remember every time I stayed the weekend at your home your pops always made me feel welcomed and taking care of. Stay strong and prayers to you and the family,” he wrote.

Some, though, were moved by Love’s unfiltered emotions. In his reaction to the post, Myers Leonard wrote, “Damn. So emotional, so real. That takes serious courage. Sorry for the loss of your father,”. It’s a time of sorrow and grief for Kevin Love and his family. However, he is grateful to have had these years with his father.