LeBron James Praises Kevin Love’s Strength and Openness About Mental Health Struggles

Though LeBron James and Kevin Love are no longer teammates on the Cleveland Cavaliers, it’s clear that the bond of friendship remains strong between the duo.

In recognizing World Mental Health Day earlier this week, James took time to acknowledge Love’s efforts on behalf of this particular issue.

One of the panic attacks that James references came last November during a Cavaliers home game, though Love’s struggles didn’t become public until he penned a March article in The Players’ Tribune. Love indicated during an August interview with NBC’s Carson Daly that James offered an inspiring comment after the article came out.

“It was a special moment for me,” Love said to Daly. “We sat toward the end of the bus. He kind of said, ‘Hey, do you have a moment?’ He stopped me, shook my hand, looked me in the eye, and said, ‘You helped a lot of people today. It’s important.'”

That item received universal praise for bringing the often-ignored issue to light. Love has taken further steps since then, including the establishment of a fund to promote both mental and physical health.

Despite the fact that James now plays for the Los Angeles Lakers and Love has a new contract with the Cavaliers that’s expected to keep him with the team through the 2022-23 season, their friendship remains as tight as ever.

“We won and we bonded and we’re going to continue this brotherhood,” Love said in an interview with ESPN’s Brian Windhorst.

The two will face each other on the court twice this season, with James returning to Quicken Loans Arena on Nov. 21. That will be followed by a January rematch at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.