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Today, Cavs All-Star forward Kevin Love was nominated for the ESPY’s Muhammad Ali Sports Humanitarian Award for continued work advocating for mental health, sources tell Fear the Sword. The Muhammad Ali Sports Humanitarian Award is given to an athlete whose continuous, demonstrated leadership has created a measured positive impact on their community through sports. The candidate must embrace the core principals that Muhammad Ali embodied so well, including confidence, conviction, dedication, giving and respect.
Love, who opened up two years ago through The Player’s Tribune about his own battles with anxiety and depression, has become a face of mental health awareness. Since his op-ed, Love has established the Kevin Love Fund, his own foundation where they inspire people to live their healthiest lives while providing the tools to achieve physical and emotional well-being. Love’s foundation has also partnered with groups like Just Keep Livin’ as well as apps like Headspace.
During the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, Love has also been at the forefront in raising awareness as also providing support for those struggling.
Tonight, Love will be joining Inside the NBA host Ernie Johnson on #NBATogether with Ernie Johnson to discuss physical and mental wellness, sources tell Fear the Sword. On Friday, he will appear on NBA Together Live on the league’s Instagram page with his trainer Derek Millender for a live workout to promote physical and mental wellness.
“We’re all in this together,” Love said in an interview with USA Today. “We need balance and we need to be present. Especially when we come out of this, we should be grateful for so many things that we have. For so many people, this has been an incredibly tough time.”