NBA Star Kevin Love Says Fatherhood ‘Has Shifted My Perspective on Mental Health’: ‘Taking Care of Myself Is Not Just About Me’

A lot has changed in Kevin Love’s life since 2018, when the NBA star first opened up about his ongoing struggles with his own mental health in a landmark essay for The Players Tribune.

Love, already an NBA Champion and an Olympic gold medalist, titled his viral essay
“Everyone Is Going Through Something,” and it was a groundbreaking revelation that even one of the top athletes in professional sports can battle depression and anxiety; his led to a mid-game panic attack on Nov. 5, 2017, which landed him in the hospital.

Love is now 36 years old and more than half a decade into his work off the court advocating for mental health through his eponymous Kevin Love Fund, but the Miami Heat star tells PEOPLE in a new interview that, like most, he still has bad days.

“It’s a journey, not a destination,” Love says, reflecting on how he’s grown since launching his non-profit organization in 2018 and becoming the face of mental health in American sports. “I’ve learned how interconnected mental health is with everything else in life – your relationships, your physical health, your career, even your sense of purpose. It’s not something that you just ‘fix’ and move on from. It’s something you constantly have to work on, like your physical fitness.”

The NBA veteran, who began his 16th season in the league last week, says it wasn’t until he began “practicing self-compassion” that he noticed real growth in his life.

“It’s okay to not have it all together all the time,” he admits now. “I’ve found that what’s important is that we keep showing up for ourselves, and for each other, every day.”

Love, who married former Sports Illustrated Swimsuit model Kate Bock in June 2022, has more than himself to show up for nowadays. He and Bock welcomed their first daughter in June 2023 while he and the Heat were in the NBA Finals, giving him a new challenge to take on: Fatherhood.

Adjusting to life as a parent has been “an incredible experience,” Love says, though he admits it’s also been one that’s come with plenty to learn as well.

“Becoming a father has definitely shifted my perspective on mental health,” Love says.

Part of that includes thinking about how he’ll have the conversations with her as she grows.

“For me, it’s important to create an environment where mental health is an open and ongoing conversation from a young age,” he says. “I want her to feel safe expressing her emotions and to know it’s okay to ask for help whenever she needs it. I think a lot of mental health issues arise when kids feel like they have to bottle things up or keep their struggles to themselves, so my plan is to encourage her to be in touch with her emotions and to teach her that feelings – whether they’re good or bad – are a natural part of life.”

And Love says that now as a new dad, he’s also becoming more aware that making sure you’re taking care of your own mental health is just as important for those around you as it is for you.

“Taking care of myself is not just about me,” Love says. “It’s about creating a stable, healthy environment for everyone around me. So, I try to be really mindful about setting aside time for myself, whether that’s through therapy, meditation, exercise, or even just taking a few minutes to clear my head. It’s important for me to be present, not just physically but emotionally, for my daughter, and that starts with making sure I’m in the right headspace.”

In the end, Love says, “I’m learning that prioritizing my mental health makes me a better parent, partner, and person overall.”

That also includes thinking about what his future might after the NBA. Love says he’s confident his time with the game won’t end when his playing career does.

“Once I retire from basketball, I envision dedicating more time to expanding [my] foundation’s initiatives,” Love says about his mental health initiative, which “works to inspire people to live their healthiest lives by creating equity between mental and physical health,” according to its website.

Earlier this summer, Love helped lead a mental health summit for student-athletes who shared their stories and learned more about how to pay attention and take care of their own mental well-being.

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“There’s so much more we can do in terms of outreach, education, and providing resources for mental health, especially for young people and athletes,” Love says about the foundation’s future plans. “I want to help shape policies that improve access to mental health care and support in schools and communities, and continue to break down the stigma around mental health.”

And in the NBA space, Love says he can see himself “working closely with young players, helping them navigate the transition from college to the professional level.”

“Ultimately, I see my post-basketball career as an opportunity to give back to the game that has given me so much,” Love says, noting the way players like Udanis Haslem and DeMar DeRozan have made efforts to help younger generations of players. “I want to help young athletes reach their full potential and navigate the challenges that come with being a professional player. It’s about leaving the game better than I found it, just like so many players did for me.”