UCLA announced Tuesday that Kevin Love’s “significant financial contribution” matches the largest donation by a former basketball student-athlete in school history—Russell Westbrook set the philanthropic standard last year.
The school will name its hoops strength and conditioning facility after the three-time NBA All-star.
.@kevinlove matches the largest donation ever by a former @UCLAMBB player. https://t.co/g2SNalqiLM #GoBruins pic.twitter.com/kwZcVlf9fl
— UCLA Athletics (@UCLAAthletics) September 20, 2016
Love, 28, wrote about the impact his time as a Bruin had on him.
This is for my Bruin family @uclaathleticshttps://t.co/AR8JjRFg4i
— Kevin Love (@kevinlove) September 20, 2016
Per The Players’ Tribune:
When I think back about my year at UCLA, I remember it as one of the best years of my life. Even though it came and went fast, it was full of great memories on the court. Josh Shipp’s impossible shot against Cal. Darren Collison’s heroics in the second round of NCAA tournament, when he dug us out of a hole in our comeback win over Texas A&M. Luc Richard Mbah a Moute’s three-point winner against Maryland in Kansas City. Russ’s courageous performance against a really strong Memphis team in the Final Four.
We didn’t win a national championship like we wanted to, but what has turned out to be more meaningful to me are the relationships we formed. We were like family, that team. For almost every single person on that team, we could meet up in 20 years and be right on the same page.
UCLA will always be my home. That’s why I’ve decided I want to give back for everything I’ve received. It only made sense to give back to the place that helped shape my basketball career. So this year I am donating to the construction of the Mo Ostin Basketball Center — specifically to the new strength and conditioning center within the facility, which I’m excited will be named The Kevin Love Strength and Conditioning Center. […] I want to help give something back for all the kids who will someday go to UCLA. I want them to find out, like I did, how special it is.
