One day after reportedly being at the center of an air-it-all-out team meeting, Cleveland Cavaliers forward Kevin Love was informed that he's been selected to participate in the 2018 NBA All-Star Game, the league announced on Tuesday.
In 44 games this season, the 6-foot-10 forward has averaged 18.6, 9.4 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game. Now a 5-time All-Star, this marks Love's second straight selection, although he missed the 2017 exhibition due to injury.
In his previous three All-Star Game appearances -- each as a member of the Minnesota Timberwolves -- Love averaged 10.6 points and 6.6 rebounds.
Despite his All-Star status, Love has recently found himself in the headlines for the wrong reasons. According to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, the Cavs held a team meeting before practice on Monday, where teammates questioned his decision to leave Cleveland's 144-123 loss to Oklahoma City Thunder with an illness before missing practice the following day.
According to Frank Isola of the New York Daily News, Cavs guard Isaiah Thomas was one of the leading forces who questioned Love's illness.
Nevertheless, Love -- who did his best to deflect his team's recent drama on Tuesday -- will be heading to Los Angeles next month, with the All-Star Game slated to take place at the Staples Center on Feb. 18.
Whether or not he will be teaming with LeBron James in Tinseltown, however, will be up to James. Alongside Steph Curry, the Cavs' star forward will serve as one of the game's two captains after receiving the most fan votes in the Eastern Conference in what is a new format for the All-Star Game.
