Kevin Love's 16th NBA season, his second in Miami, could come to a close Wednesday night if the Heat can't pull off an upset against the Celtics.
But retirement isn't on Love's mind just yet. The 35-year-old former All-Star and NBA champion expressed his desire to keep playing in an interview with Ira Winderman of the Sun-Sentinel.
"I don't want to retire," he said. "I would like to keep playing."
Reflecting on his career, Love shared a moment from his earlier years. "I remember when I was in Year 10, or just finished Year 10, and Kevin Durant had finished Year 11. We were at USA Basketball in Vegas at the Wynn, and we were, 'Damn, even if we play 20 years, we're like both already over the hill.' So now in Year 16, the end is still a ways away, but certainly you can see it a lot more than even 10 years, 12 years in."
Love's future with the Heat is somewhat uncertain. He has a $4 million player option for next season, which he's expected to pick up. However, if the Heat decide to make roster changes, Love's contract could be bought out. Despite this, Love has been a valuable part of the Heat's second unit this season, averaging 8.8 points and 6.1 rebounds in 55 games, the most since his 2021-22 campaign in Cleveland.
Miami might see the benefit of keeping Love around, both for his veteran presence in the locker room and his on-court contributions. However, there's speculation in NBA circles that the Heat could make a big move, trading for a star player to complement Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo. Such a move could lead to significant changes in the roster, potentially involving Love. If Miami decides to move on from Love, other playoff teams in need of a veteran big man could consider adding him for a season.
Despite the uncertainty, it seems likely that Love will be back with the Heat next season, as he continues to pursue his passion for the game.
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