Kevin Love Says He's Been Told Cavs Will Eventually Retire His No. 0 Jersey

Miami Heat forward Kevin Love, who helped the Cleveland Cavaliers win their first-ever championship in 2016, told reporters that his old team plans to retire his No. 0 jersey and hang it in the Rocket Arena rafters someday.

Love made his remarks after Miami fell 112-107 to Cleveland on Wednesday. It was his first game playing in Cleveland after the Cavs waived him on Feb. 18, 2023. He signed with Miami two days later and has been with the team ever since.

Miami had played in Cleveland twice since adding Love, but he did not play in either contest. On Wednesday, Love was in the starting lineup and posted 10 points, six rebounds and two blocks in 16 minutes.

Before the game, the Cavs paid tribute to Love in front of a packed house:

Love then gestured to his ring finger, signifying the title the team won in 2016, when he formed a Big Three with LeBron James and Kyrie Irving and combined to upset the 73-win Golden State Warriors.

Love, a 17-year veteran, played in Cleveland from 2014-2023, averaging 15.7 points and 9.2 rebounds per game. He made two All-Star teams during his time in town.

Loved expressed hope that his banner could eventually hang next to one in tribute to Nick Gilbert, the late son of Cavs governor Dan Gilbert.

Gilbert passed away at the age of 26 from Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1). He was a good luck charm for the Cavs at the draft lottery, most notably in 2011, when the team got the No. 1 pick and landed Irving.

Per Ethan Sands of Cleveland.com, Love notably spoke in a tribute video to Gilbert last Sunday during the Cavs' annual Bow Tie Night in honor of him.

“One of my favorite things about Nick is he had unwavering confidence. He was always someone who always could lighten up a room,” Love said.