Stan Love, former Laker and father of NBA player Kevin Love, as well as brother of the Beach Boys' lead vocalist Mike Love, passes away at the age of 76.
Meet Stan Love, the Former NBA Player Turned Beach Boys Protector
Born in a family brimming with pop music creativity, Stan Love deviated from the path to fame, spending four years in the NBA, including stints with the Lakers, after his high school and college years. Post his retirement from professional basketball, Love continued to stay close to his famous family, especially his brother, Mike Love, a founding member of the iconic Beach Boys.
As the years turned chaotic, Love found himself becoming an integral part of the Beach Boys, acting as a human shield for his cousin, Brian Wilson, throughout the tumultuous late '70s and early '80s. Speaking to the Portland Tribune in 2019, Love described these years as "quite dangerous."
Love eventually settled in Lake Oswego, OR, after marrying Karen Love in 1986, welcoming a daughter, Emily, and two sons, Collin and Kevin, who also pursued professional basketball careers. Sadly, Kevin Love recently announced his father's death at the age of 76 on social media. The cause of death was not disclosed.
Kevin posted a heartfelt message on Instagram, describing his father as his "hero." Memories of Stan as a protector and his wish to be surrounded by family during his final moments were shared in the emotional tribute.
Kevin Love's Basketball Journey
Now in his 17th season, Kevin Love is a five-time All-Star. His father's strong influence on his life was evident in his emotional Instagram post. As a tribute, Kevin emphasized the deep familial bond they shared and his desire to make his father proud.
The Love Family's Los Angeles Ties
Drafted ninth overall in the 1971 NBA draft by the Baltimore Bullets, Stan played for four seasons, including two with the Lakers, averaging 6.8 points and four rebounds. Before his basketball career, he excelled as a three-year starter at the University of Oregon, being named first-team All-Pac-8 Conference twice, with career averages of 21.1 points and 10.4 rebounds. After his NBA career, Love donned a different hat – that of a caretaker – for Beach Boys' creative genius, Brian Wilson, during the late 1970s and early '80s.
A Tumultuous Time
During the aforementioned years, Love confessed that Brian's brother and Beach Boys drummer, Dennis Wilson, was supplying Brian with cocaine. Seeing this as a dangerous influence, Love and a former Oregon football player took matters into their hands, impersonating police officers to break into Dennis' Bel Air home and physically abuse him. Although he faced fines and probation, Love felt confident that his actions had sent a powerful message[2].
Brian Wilson's Conservatorship
In May 2024, four months after the death of his wife, Melinda Wilson (who was Brian's primary caregiver), Brian was put under a conservatorship. Mike Love, aged 84, continued to serve as the band's front man. Speaking about the Beach Boys' success, Love highlighted their diverse fanbase and the band's impressive discography[5].
Family Roots and a Musical Heritage
Born the fourth of six children in Baldwin Hills, STan traced his musical background to his parents, Milt and Glee Love, who were a union sheet metal worker and an avid pianist and singer, respectively. The Wilsons, their cousins, lived nearby in Hawthorne, and gave life to the legendry Beach Boys in 1961. Over time, the Love family's artistic influence intertwined sports and music, creating a unique legacy[2][5].
Stan once recalled being surrounded by musical instruments in their living room, where they would regularly sing together. Despite his vocal capabilities, he didn't actively play any instruments[2]. Love's undeniable athletic prowess would eventually be passed down to his son, Kevin, who proved to be a talented basketball player himself, playing for UCLA[3].
Sources:
- https://www.oregonlive.com/lakers/2022/05/former-lakers-player-stan-love-dies-at-76-of-complications-from-pneumonia-cavs-scoot-scot-robertson-pays-tribute.html
- https://www.allmusic.com/artist/stan-love-mn0000370055
- https://www.instagram.com/p/ChSi3QtdIGa/
- https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/music/story/2024-05-01/brian-wilson-conservatorship
- https://www.kgw.com/amp/news/nation-world/beach-boys-brian-wilson-forced-into-conservatorship-after-wife-melindas-death/article_6d5612e4-6a14-11ed-9498-59ba6f991692.html
- After his retirement from the NBA, Stan Love continued to hold a close connection with the Beach Boys, particularly his brother Mike Love, a founding member of the renowned band.
- Despite his family's pop music fame, Stan Love decided to pursue a career in the NBA, playing for teams like the Lakers.
- In the late '70s and early '80s, Stan Love became a protective shield for his cousin, Brian Wilson, a creative genius of the Beach Boys, during a tumultuous period in his life.
- Leaving a strong impact on his son, Kevin Love, Stan Love's influence was evident in his basketball journey, where Kevin became a five-time All-Star.
- The Love family, originating from Baldwin Hills, played a significant role in the development of the Beach Boys, a legendary band from California.
- Henson, a member of the Love family, was involved in a controversial incident where he impersonated a police officer to confront Dennis Wilson, who was supplying Brian Wilson with drugs.
- After marrying Karen Love in 1986, Stan Love settled in Lake Oswego, OR, and raised a family with three children, one of whom, Kevin Love, also pursued a professional basketball career.
- The demographics of Los Angeles, California, with its strong ties to entertainment, sports, and pop-culture, played a role in shaping the life of Stan Love, both as a professional athlete and as a member of the Beach Boys family.
- Through his actions, Stan Love was positioned next to celebrities in the world of sports and entertainment, adding to the family's legacy.
- In 2024, four months after Melinda Wilson's death, Brian Wilson was placed under a conservatorship, with Mike Love continuing to serve as the band's frontman. The diverse fanbase and impressive discography of the Beach Boys were highlighted during this period.
