Even in the ongoing heat of NBA postseason action, there are just simple things that are bigger than basketball.
Tristan Thompson and Kevin Love showed this as both league veterans shared one of the game’s most touching moments recently.
Ahead of Game 4 of the Eastern Conference first round series between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Miami Heat, Thompson and Love warmly embraced each other for a few moments near midcourt of Kaseya Center.
Love has been inactive for most of this month for Miami which team captain Bam Adebayo noted as “personal reasons”. It turned out that he tended and mourned the passing of his beloved father, Stan Love, which he announced back in April 27 via a social media post.
Thompson and Love were having an emotional conversation, with NBA fans feeling the genuine connection between the pair.
It’s been well known that Thompson and Love are lifelong brothers on and off the court.
Both of them were key players during the homecoming run for LeBron James for the Cavaliers, helping the franchise reach four consecutive NBA Finals appearances, including their historic 2016 title victory.
Love hammered his case as a Cavaliers legend before he ultimately joined the Heat in 2022-23 midseason.
Despite not being teammates anymore, the two remained tightly connected and continued keeping in touch.
And in this painful passing of Love’s father, who was 76 and a former NBA player, Thompson lets his former teammate know that he’s there if he wants someone to lean on.
“At the end of the day, that’s my brother forever. So, (expletive) basketball, (expletive) the game. It’s bigger than all of that. It always will be,” Thompson told cleveland.com.
“K-Love is family. I know what it’s like losing a parent and it’s definitely tough.”
Thompson endured a heartbreaking experience two years ago when his mother, Andrea, passed away due to a heart attack. And during those times of a difficult healing process, Love was there and supported him.
Although he and the Cavs have stamped their entry to the 2nd round of the NBA Playoffs by completely dismantling the Heat with a 138-83 Game 4 win to secure the series sweep, Thompson’s thoughts and prayers will always be there for Love.
“I told him, ‘You just gained a guardian angel to watch over you and your beautiful family,’” Thompson added. “I told him I’m here for him, whatever he needs. If he wants to vent, scream, cry together, I’m here. I’m here any time, any place.
“I told him that his dad is proud of him. He is watching over him each and every day. He’s done so many things to help his family change everyone’s life for generations to come.”
