Author: David Shama

Kevin Love talked about being stereotyped during an interview with Sports Headliners that also included his personal life, rebounding potential and guns in NBA locker rooms.

Love is in his second season as a power forward for the Timberwolves.  He’s only 21 but already has established himself as one of the premier rebounders on the planet.  He averaged 9.1 rebounds per game in his rookie season, finishing ninth in the NBA.

This season Love is averaging 12.3 rebounds, third in the league.  His scoring average is 15.2 points per game.  Earlier this season he had nine consecutive games scoring and rebounding in double figures.

The 6-9, 260 pound Love, whose father Stan named him Kevin Wesley Love after undersized rebounding center Wes Unseld, has a chance to be remembered as one of the premier rebounders of his era.  “I am told there is no such thing as a selfish rebound,” Love said.  “If you have to get that ball, if you have to steal it from a teammate, that’s what you have to do.  As long as you’re helping your team win, it doesn’t even matter about the stats.  Bill Russell said you don’t have to be the most athletic guy in the world to get all those rebounds because 80 percent of rebounds are below the rim.

“Obviously, you look at me, I am a 6-8, 6-9 white guy that is somewhat vertically challenged.  It doesn’t matter to me.  I am still getting us rebounds.  It’s all fighting for position, knowing where the ball is coming off.  There’s just a special technique to it.”

How important is Love to the Wolves?  He missed the first 18 games of the season with a broken bone in his left hand.  The team won two games without him.

After a Wolves practice earlier this month at Target Center Love answered questions for Sports Headliners:

You joined the Wolves at 20 years old, leaving your home on the West Coast.  Were you homesick at times?

“Somewhat.  I had my (older) brother (Collin) out here with me.  He’s out here with me this year, too. (So) I had a little piece of home with me and family with me all the time. …

“Getting adjusted in the second year has helped me to be not homesick as much as I was last year.  I actually really enjoy the city. …”

You left a great program at UCLA for a losing situation here.  Being honest, have there been a few times when you caught yourself wondering if you should have remained a Bruin beyond your freshman season?

“That’s tough.  I miss the social aspect of college.  I miss all my friends that I made there.  There are times that I wish I could go back from that aspect.  I love college basketball because the crowd is so into it.  People camping out, trying to get tickets to the game.  You have all that tradition there (UCLA) with the 11 national championships.

“Then you come here and you’re playing against guys like Kevin Garnett and Tim Duncan, and you’re living your dreams.  The only tough part about it is the losing aspect. That’s something you’ll never accept but you can come to learn from it.  We only won 24 games last year.  I don’t know if we’ll win that this year.  I hate using the word rebuilding, but we are in a rebuilding stage and we have a lot of young guys including myself.”

You’re averaging over 12 rebounds per game.  When you reach your peak as a player, how many are you capable of averaging?

“I still feel like I am transitioning into a young man’s body. I turned 21 in September so I still feel I am relatively very young for the NBA.  I don’t feel like my body has caught up to where my game is at.  So I think when that happens, I think the rebounds they jump into the 13, 14 (averages), maybe even peak at 14 or 15.  I definitely think I could get a couple more rebounds a game (than now), but you have to play enough minutes, not get in foul trouble.  Just things like that.  But I think at my peak my scoring can jump up, maybe three or five points, and also my rebounds maybe two to three.”

Do you expect to win multiple rebounding titles by the time your career is over?

“Boy, there is Dwight Howard (twice the NBA rebounding leader) in the league.  That always makes it tough.  I feel like I will always be in the top five.  If I am not scoring well, if my shot’s a little bit off I can always play defense and I can always rebound.”

Does averaging 20 points, 12 rebounds and five assists seem doable?

“That’s at the very peak.  I think it’s doable but if we’re winning 40, 50, 55 games, something like that, and I am averaging 10-10 and five, I will be fine with that, too.”

When you came into the league some people said you were too small to play power forward and your problems would include not being able to get your shots off near the basket.  Do you think people stereotyped you because you’re not that tall, or athletic looking, or even because you’re white?

“I feel like in some ways, yes, I was stereotyped because of those things you just mentioned.  I really admire Steve Nash (6-3 Phoenix’s league MVP point guard) because coming out (in the draft) he was the 15^th pick.  People we’re saying in the same kind of context (as me), focusing on what he couldn’t do, rather than what he could do.

“I think it was kind of the same thing with me.  People wanted to only mention that I was 6-8 and one half, 6-9.  I was right at the cusp of being undersized for my position. I kind of had a bulky body.  I wasn’t the most athletic guy in the world.

“But I still think I am kind of sold short on my athleticism as far as getting up and down the floor, and finishing around the basket.  I think last year I had trouble just because getting in for the first time and playing against a guy like a Marcus Camby, or a guy like Dwight Howard.  But now I am getting my shot blocked considerably less.

“As far as improving on that, I played against a lot of different guys (Ryan Gomes, Kevin Garnett) during the summer. … I’ve had a lot of doubters my whole life, and one of my favorite things is to prove people wrong.  I feel like I can continue to do that. …”

Could you adapt to the small forward position or would that be too difficult physically in matchups with smaller, quicker players?

“I  feel like I definitely could change my body.  Lose weight, a lot more sleek.  I would really have to work on my lateral quickness.

“I don’t think I am a small forward.  I don’t think I am a five (center).  My natural position is power forward.  But if they needed me to play at the three (during) some parts of the game I think I could do that if we decided to go with a bigger lineup.”

Do you think Spanish Olympic guard Ricky Rubio, drafted on the first round by the Wolves last year, will ever play here?

“I  hope he comes over. There’s a lot of hype on that kid and I would like to see what he can do.”

How fun would it be to have an exceptional passer like Rubio to play with?  Someone to match your talent for passing and willingness to share the ball.

“Awesome.  I  always talk to passers (and learn) what goes through their minds,  where they want to put the ball.  It’s pretty special to see what they can do. “

Who are the three NBA players, past or present, you most admire?

“My dad (a former NBA player).  He taught me the rebounding aspect and the toughness aspect of basketball.  Then I’d have to say a guy like Wes Unseld, an undersized big man.  I love Larry Legend, Kevin McHale, Magic Johnson.  Those big time guys like that are guys I grew up watching on the tapes that my dad used to give me when I was young.”

You had a successful coat drive to benefit the Salvation Army last November. Why did you choose to support a coat drive?

“I thought the coat drive was a good idea, obviously because of the cold in Minneapolis, but also nobody really had a stamp on that.  I remember growing up in Portland, a guy like Brian Grant had a coat drive.  Also, a guy like Rasheed Wallace had a coat drive.  I thought it was a good thing to get a head start in the community.”

What’s your reaction when you hear about NBA players waiving guns at one another in the locker room?

“Around here I am not afraid of it (happening), just because we have so many good guys on this team.  I don’t think the front office or the coaching staff would allow guys that weren’t high character around the organization.

“It is bad for the NBA.  I’ve never seen anything like it, so I wouldn’t even know how to react.

Your uncle is Mike Love of the Beach Boys.  How often do you listen to the Beach Boys?

“I love the Beach Boys.  I have a whole 50 song play list on my iTunes and my iPod.  I always enjoyed their music but I was kind of embarrassed (when younger).  People would make fun of me in Oregon, like, ‘Oh, your uncle is a Beach Boy.’  When I got to UCLA, people were like, ‘Your uncle is a beach boy?  I grew up with them.’  These are kids my age.  Then I thought it was really cool.  It was like, yeah, he’s my uncle.  No big deal. It’s feel good music. I think it’s phenomenal.”

Do you have a steady girl friend?

“I do.  She’s out in L.A. (and) she goes to UCLA.  Her name is Elise.  She is a fourth year senior graduating this year in June.  She is a Newport Coast girl. That’s the greatest spot…if you’ve ever been there.  Unbelievable. ”