How Kevin Love has helped off the court since joining Heat in February: ‘He brought some joy’

The late-season addition of Kevin Love has not only helped the Miami Heat on the court, he’s also helped off the court.

Last week on JJ Redick’s podcast, “The Old Man and the Three,” Heat sharpshooter Duncan Robinson said Love “totally changed the whole dynamic of our locker room” with “his character, his levity, what he brought in terms of just connecting people, having a sense of humor.”

Other Heat teammates agree.

Perspective on the history the Heat is making in the fourth quarter of playoff games

“He brought some joy to it,” Heat wing Max Strus said ahead of Wednesday night’s Game 3 of the NBA Finals against the Denver Nuggets at Kaseya Center. “He brings a positive attitude and he’s got a great sense of humor and just knows the right time to liven it up a little bit. We kind of needed that. We needed somebody to come in that was a veteran like that, that’s been here, that knows the right moments to keep it light and keep us at ease. He’s just done a great job of that, just being a great veteran to everybody.”

Love joined the Heat during the mid-February All-Star break after agreeing to a contract buyout with the Cleveland Cavaliers during his 15th NBA season. He has started 15 of the Heat’s first 20 playoff games, making an impact with his rebounding, three-point shooting and outlet passes.

But based on comments from those within the Heat’s locker room, his voice has been just as valuable as his on-court skill set.

“I think just being myself, unapologetically,” Love said. “I’m very grateful for them that they accepted me throughout the entire organization, just being myself, on the floor, off the floor. I think that helped me get acclimated.

“But also people that I’ve been around — I like to keep it light. I like to get to know my teammates on and off the floor personally but also professionally, see how I can best help them, uplift them and get the best out of them.”

Even after recently being taken out of the Heat’s starting lineup toward the end of the Eastern Conference finals, Love continued to serve as a leader. Love received three straight DNP-CDs (did not play, coach’s decision) before being re-inserted into the starting lineup for Game 2 of the NBA Finals.

Love, 34, said he wants “to be an extension of guys like [Udonis Haslem], like Jimmy [Butler], like Bam [Adebayo], Kyle [Lowry], players like that who provide so much not just on the floor but off.” Love will be an unrestricted free agent this upcoming offseason.

“He’s been benched, he’s been DNP’d and hasn’t said a word,” Strus said. “He’s just been the best leader and the best teammate we can ask for.”

ADDED ATTENTION

After Heat forward Caleb Martin shined in the East finals, the Nuggets have made him a priority as part of their defensive game plan against the Heat.

Martin has noticed the added attention early in the NBA Finals.

“Yeah, I definitely can feel that,” said Martin, who has totaled just six points on 10 shots through the first two games of the NBA Finals. “I can definitely feel it’s that type of energy when I’m on the court. Just the attention of detail, that’s what it takes to get a championship at this time of year. Guys are honing in on everybody and doing whatever they can.”

Martin calls the Nuggets’ tight defense against him “a sign of respect.”

“It’s my job to make adjustments and find ways to be effective,” Martin said. “That’s the cool thing about the playoffs, though, is you get different looks and it definitely challenges your IQ and your adjustments. It’s pretty cool.”