Utah Jazz head coach Will Hardy highlighted the importance of having veterans during his interview with the media before yesterday’s game against the Los Angeles Lakers, citing Kevin Love as a great example.
The Utah Jazz acquired Love in a three-team deal involving the Los Angeles Clippers and the Miami Heat. The one-time NBA champion was expected to pursue a buyout, but has instead stayed with the team this year.
“When I spoke with Kevin before camp, it was trying to make sure he knew the value that I saw in him and that I saw a real role for him with our group,” Hardy said of Love via ESPN’s Dave McMenamin.
“We are excited to have him. We need him. We need veteran leadership in our locker room. He has been where all of our guys want to go to —he has won at the highest level,” he added.
Utah Jazz News: Kevin Love opens up on his current situation with the team
As mentioned, Kevin Love was expected to ask for a buyout upon moving to the Utah Jazz and join a contender with a chance of winning another championship. Instead, the five-time NBA All-Star stayed and is filling a void in the frontcourt after Walker Kessler’s season-ending shoulder injury.
“Walker Kessler going down has provided me more minutes, at least in the near future, in the last several games,” Love admitted via DJ Siddiqi of ESportsInsider.com.
“But again, even if I’m not playing, I think my role — it’s great to have a role in my 18th season — is being able to be that veteran leader, a sound voice, somebody that preaches and acts on accountability and just continues to show what professionalism looks like every single day,” he added.
