Kevin Love gives back to alma mater, pledges $1M
Kevin Love pledged $1M to the Mo Ostin Basketball Center. The UCLA alum led the Bruins to the 2008 Final Four before turning pro. (Daily Bruin file photo)
By Derrek Li
Sept. 20, 2016 4:14 p.m.
It has been a busy summer for Cleveland Cavaliers forward Kevin Love.
After winning his first NBA championship in June, Love has decided to give back to his alma mater, where he played the 2007-2008 season.
In an essay called “Bruin Walk” published in The Players’ Tribune, Love shared that he will be donating to the construction of the Mo Ostin Basketball Center after telling stories of his time with UCLA men’s basketball.
The former Pac-10 Player of the Year recounts meeting John Wooden, his friendly rivalry with teammate and Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook and their Final Four run before falling to the Memphis Tigers.
UCLA said that the donation matches the reported $1 million that Westbrook donated to the center a year ago. Their donations tie for the largest made by a former basketball student-athlete in UCLA history.
[Related: Russell Westbrook makes donation to Mo Ostin Basketball Center]
Last year UCLA announced that it will name the practice court there the “Russell Westbrook Court,” and it will now be naming the strength and conditioning facility the “Kevin Love Strength and Conditioning Center.”
Love will be honored Saturday during the first quarter break of the UCLA vs. Stanford football game on the field for his leadership and philanthropy.
