Children at the Cleveland Clinic Children’s Hospital were surprised Thursday by a visit from Buddy the Elf and his friends, the entire roster of the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Actually, Buddy was Cavs forward Kevin Love dressed up as the character from the 2003 film.
“I just like to smile, smiling's my favorite!” – @kevinlove
Today we’re spreading holiday cheer for kids at @ClevelandClinic Children’s!#CavsCare https://t.co/B2UrJ5cAaa
— Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) December 13, 2018
Regardless of whether the children would have rather had a visit from Love or from an elf famed for his holiday cheer, the moment probably brought a burst of joy to their day.
Love was accompanied by the entire Cavs roster. The Cavaliers went from room to room, bringing presents and smiles with them.
“It can change their spirit so much. For that 5 – 10 minutes to take their mind off of what they’re going through — this & @flashesofhope are two of the best events of the year.” – @RealTristan13 #CavsCare pic.twitter.com/FYMfszEuvt
— Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) December 13, 2018
As an important component of the Big 3, who in 2016 brought Cleveland its first sports championship in decades, Love remains a popular figure in Cleveland.
Unfortunately, the UCLA grad has been unable to contribute recently to the struggling Cavs, as he is out with a toe injury and likely will not make it back into the lineup until January.
But even when he’s not playing, the 11th-year veteran can still give back to the Cleveland community. A visit from an NBA superstar — or Buddy the Elf — and the rest of the Cavs could make all the difference for a child.
For more official photos of the Cavs’ visit, click here.