First-year Cleveland Cavalier star Kevin Love was taken aback by the camaraderie he's experienced so far with the team, something that seemingly wasn't present during his time with the Minnesota Timberwolves. He also recounted LeBron James's message to the team, which serves as an example of just how much James has grown as a leader.
Love made it clear he didn't dislike his time in Minnesota, nor did he dislike his teammates. But what he's experienced off the court with his new teammates is something he didn't expect. In writing an article for the Players' Tribune, Love described the Cavaliers' flight to Rio De Janeiro last week to illustrate just how special his team is.
"Once we got in the air, I expected guys to throw on the Beats (headphones) and pull out iPads. That's what I was used to. This was a 12-hour flight, and I was counting on at least seven hours of shuteye. That never happened," Love wrote recently. "Drinks were poured. Guys took turns telling stories. After a whirlwind summer, it was the first real chance to let our guard down without being judged in the public eye.
"And the really special thing, the thing that can be rare in the NBA, was that everybody was included. Where you came from, where you went to school, what kind of neighborhood you were from - none of that mattered on this flight. ... Everything on the plane to Rio felt natural, and I felt like I could be a part of something special."
Cleveland swapped rookie Andrew Wiggins for Love in August, instantly catapulting the Cavaliers to an early favorite to reach the NBA finals. Nobody is questioning the Cavaliers' offense, but their lack of an anchor in the paint has plenty questioning their defense - an area Love said James, as the team's leader, touched on.
"We need to work until we get to a point on defense where we can close our eyes and know where the guy behind us is going to be," James said, according to Love. "You have to be able to look at the man next to you as your brother; trust that he's going to do his job. We have to become a family."
