When LeBron James took his talents to Los Angeles earlier this month, Kevin Love became the new face of the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Twenty-one years ago, Shawn Kemp laid claim to the same post, after being acquired by Cleveland in a blockbuster three-way trade with the Seattle Supersonics and Milwaukee Bucks.
On Thursday night, Cavs All-Stars past and present collided in a moment captured by Love on his Instagram story. Posting a picture of himself alongside Kemp, Love wrote the caption "gotta little hot in LA...needed the Reign Man," in reference to the high-flying big man's nickname.
A 5-time All-Star with the Sonics, Kemp was acquired by the Cavs in the 1997 offseason in a three-way deal that sent Terrell Brandon to Milwaukee and Vin Baker to Seattle. In his first season in Cleveland, Kemp averaged 18.0 points and 9.3 rebounds, earning a sixth All-Star honor while leading the Cavs to their last playoffs appearance until 2006.
Over the course of his three seasons with Cleveland, Kemp averaged 18.5 points and 9.1 rebounds. In 2000, he was traded to the Portland Trailblazers in another three-team deal.
Much like Kemp, Love was already an established All-Star when the Cavs acquired him from the Minnesota Timberwolves for a package including No. 1 overall pick Andrew Wiggins in 2014. Since then, Love has earned two All-Star appearances, averaging 17.1 points and 10.0 rebounds in four seasons with Cleveland.
Following the offseason departure of James, Love is in store for a role unlike any other he's played with the Cavs before.
It's one that Kemp, however, is plenty familiar with.
