One NBA player who took his share of bumps and bruises last year was Kevin Love. Despite a season filled with criticism, many know by now that the All-Star power forward-center has re-signed with the Cleveland Cavaliers and will stay in Ohio for at least the next four years.
Love, who has agreed to a five-year $110-million contract with the Cavs, is one of many athletes chosen to pose buck naked for ESPN magazine's annual Body Issue.
In that issue, he rendered a different kind of look once the basketball uniform was off. Under the hood, Love left women drooling by showing off his physique. More importantly, he showed the type of condition he is in despite missing most of the NBA playoffs because of a shoulder injury.
Love suffered a dislocated shoulder in what is believed to be a dirty play by Kelly Olynk of the Boston Celtics. That injury came in the first round and is the reason why Love was sidelined when the Cavs met the Golden State Warriors in the NBA Finals.
"I was really looking forward to the playoffs. This injury is one of the hardest things I've dealt with. It was really tough to go out the way that I did. I knew when it happened, I probably wasn't going to be able to return to play" Love said on ESPN.
With Love sidelined, the All-Star big man didn't hide his frustration over not being able to play ball and helping out his team during the finals. Nevertheless, Love is looking forward to a fresh start and more basketball years ahead, probably until he is 40, if his body permits.
"At the end of the day, I want to play until I'm 40. And I would like it to be my choice. I 100 percent think that my best basketball is ahead of me."
At just 26, Love certainly still has a lot of years ahead of him. Despite the temporary setback, Love is expected to return with a bang as he tries to pick off from where he left in the last NBA playoffs and hopefully, the NBA Finals, if the Cavs can go all the way once more.
