Doctors Warned Kevin Love His Shoulder Would Be Prone To Injury

Feb 10, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward Kevin Love (0) walks off the court with an apparent left shoulder injury in the second quarter against the Los Angeles Lakers at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 10, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward Kevin Love (0) walks off the court with an apparent left shoulder injury in the second quarter against the Los Angeles Lakers at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports /
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Feb 10, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward Kevin Love (0) walks off the court with an apparent left shoulder injury in the second quarter against the Los Angeles Lakers at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 10, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward Kevin Love (0) walks off the court with an apparent left shoulder injury in the second quarter against the Los Angeles Lakers at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports /

Cleveland Cavaliers fans held their collective breath as Kevin Love injured his shoulder against the Lakers at Quicken Loans Arena Feb. 8, but it’s not serious. Love is expected back after the All-Star break.

Not again. That’s what I thought when watching Cleveland Cavaliers forward Kevin Love walk of the court with no movement in his left arm.

Love injured his left shoulder–the same shoulder Kelly Olynyk infamously shredded up during the NBA Playoffs last spring–while trying to work Kobe Bryant over in the post.

And it wasn’t exactly reassuring to hear Love state the injury felt like “fire running down” his arm.

Take a look at the video below, and you’ll see Bryant jam Love up on the block…

Fortunately, reports broke during the game that the injury wasn’t serious. Love later said it was likely just a “stinger.” Love won’t miss a ton of time, according to Cleveland.com beat writer Chris Haynes.

Undoubtedly, the injury was scary, but Love knew these types of injuries were a possibility when he returned from the torn labrum suffered in the playoffs, according to Jason Lloyd of Ohio.com

"“Doctors warned Love after his shoulder surgery last spring things like this could happen from time to time, but it was the first time he experienced it. He still doesn’t have full range of motion back in the shoulder because, ‘my stuff is anchored down pretty tight in there and it will always kind of be like that,’ he said. “It wouldn’t be surprising if in the next couple days it loosens up on me and feels good.”"

Love didn’t make the All-Star team and won’t be participating in any of the weekend’s activities, so that means he’ll have seven days of rest and relaxation to get his shoulder right.

Love was playing well when he left the game, with eight points, six rebounds and three assists. For the season, he’s averaging 15.7 points, and 10.3 rebounds per contest.

Love’s player efficiency rating of 19.16 is 10th among power forwards, according to ESPN.

Despite signing a maximum contract with the Cavaliers last summer, Love has been the subject of trade rumors, with the trade deadline looming on Feb. 18. ESPN’s Brian Windhorst appeared on local talk radio (ESPN Cleveland) Monday afternoon stating that Love isn’t going anywhere this season.

Next: All-Time Cavs NBA All-Star Game Starting 5

Windhorst is probably right, but depending on how the season ends, prepare yourself for the Love rumors to heat up come summer time. Hopefully Love will be playing in The Finals, an opportunity he was robbed of by Olynyk last spring.