See Every Insane Kevin Love Outlet Pass To LeBron James This Season

Eat your heart out Wes Unseld.

LeBron James and Kevin Love had a rocky first season together in Cleveland. Much has been made of their relationship on and off the court and it’s unlikely we’ll ever see them going to brunch together before games. But there was one on-court component to their game that fell into place perfectly since Love and LeBron came to Cleveland: the outlet pass.

Love has been a fan of the outlet since he was a kid. He used to watch old film as undersized Hall-of-Fame Washington Bullets center Wes Unseld would rip a rebound and whip two-handed dagger dishes to a streaking guard. Love has exhibited the same sort of marksmanship off the defensive rebound, or even after a team makes a basket.

Love has turned the outlet into one of his primary weapons. We can still remember his delicious hook-ups with Corey Brewer when both were on the Timberwolves, but when Love was dealt to Cleveland this summer, the Love-to-LeBron connection off a rebound — or even a made basket — wasn’t at the forefront of that new partnership. Most of us just marveled at how opponents might defend a high screen and roll between Love and LeBron or Love and Kyrie Irving. With Love picking and popping, or slipping the screen, it was pick your poison for the other team.

Since Love has oddly been relegated to spot-up shooter status in the half-court, we’re left to marvel at the connection LeBron and Love made during Kevin’s gorgeous outlet passes.

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Maybe Love doesn’t re-up this summer, or the Cavs get bounced way earlier than expected in the NBA Playoffs. Maybe it’s because there’s a very real disconnect between James and the former Timberwolves All-Star. There are a myriad of questions we have about the Kevin Love’s relationship with LeBron James. Their symbiosis during outlet passes, isn’t one of them.

(video via Half Court Hoops)

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