Cleveland Cavaliers Forward Kevin Love Explains Why He’ll Wear Jersey No. 0

Aug 26, 2014; Independence, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers player Kevin Love poses with his jersey at Cleveland Clinic Courts. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports

Kevin Love was introduced in front of the Cleveland media today, and the new Cavaliers forward explained why he chose to wear No. 0.

He wore No. 42 in Minesota, but that number is hanging in the rafters at Quicken Loans arena in honor of Nate Thurmond. He also considered his Olympic No. 11, but that belongs to another famous Cavalier named Zydruns Illgauskas.

Love also considered No. 7, before finally going big-time throwback with the selection of No. 0.

"“I went all the way back to my grass roots, and my first number I ever played with,” Love said. “I remembered showing up to a game in Beaverton, Oregon with a brand new team…I was the last guy to the gym for the tournament and there was the zero for me. That’s the story behind it. I just decided zero was the right fit for me and it really brings me back to Portland, which is Oregon. The “O” as [David Griffin]  told me later…when i told him which number I was going to choose; he said, ‘You can’t forget Ohio, too,’ and he right.”"

Love may wear zero this upcoming season, but he’ll be remembered as a Cleveland sports hero if he helps the Cavs win their first title in franchise history while delivering the city its first major championship since 1964.