Movies

Ex-Laker Stan Love, dad of Kevin Love and brother of Beach Boys front man Mike Love, dies at 76

BBG News

Growing up in a vibrantly artistic household in sunny Southern California, surrounded by the rhythmic beats of pop music, I, Stan Love, chose an unexpected route to stardom. Rather than following the traditional path of the music industry, I spent four years honing my skills on the basketball court, even donning the purple and gold for two seasons with the illustrious Los Angeles Lakers. Before that, I was a standout player at Inglewood Morningside High School and the University of Oregon.

After retiring from his professional basketball career, the 6-foot-9, 215-pound Love maintained strong bonds with his family. His brother, Mike Love, was one of the original members of the Beach Boys, while Stan Love later became an integral part of the band, often acting as a bodyguard for his cousin, Brian Wilson, during the chaotic late ’70s and early ’80s.

According to Love, those years were filled with chaos. He was constantly on edge, working around the clock to fend off trouble. The glamour of fame and wealth in the rock-and-roll world can be quite perilous to inhabit. (2019 interview with Portland Tribune)

Love found a permanent home in Lake Oswego, Oregon, when he wed Karen in 1986. Their family grew to include a daughter, Emily, and two boys, Collin and Kevin, all of whom joined their father’s footsteps by pursuing careers in the NBA.

In a post shared on social media, NBA player Kevin Love, who’s currently in his seventeenth season and has been named an All-Star five times, confirmed the passing of his father, Stan Love, aged 76. The circumstances surrounding his demise were not disclosed.

Son, I battled for quite some time,” a message read on Instagram. “The toughest phase was the past six months. The hardest to observe were the last few weeks. Even as your condition worsened towards the end, I still saw you as a towering figure. My guardian. My initial hero.

UCLA Sports

The Love family has journeyed from the limelight of the Beach Boys’ success to navigating the ups and downs that Los Angeles offers, experiencing both its ecstasy and sorrow.

In your previous chapter, you frequently expressed gratitude for the love and support of your family, especially your spouse and children. You’ve returned this affection deeply, and your heartfelt desire was to spend your final moments among your loved ones at home.

“That breath came. And now it’s time to rest.”

Stan Love was selected ninth overall in the 1971 NBA draft by the Baltimore Bullets, and he spent four seasons playing for both the Bullets and the Lakers, with an average of 6.8 points per game and 4 rebounds in a total of 226 games. Additionally, he played 12 games for San Antonio in the American Basketball Association.

At Oregon for three years, Love earned first-team All-Pac-8 Conference honors twice and averaged 21.1 points and 10.4 rebounds over his career. He set a school record by scoring 30 or more points in a game on 12 separate occasions. In recognition of his achievements, he was inducted into the Oregon Hall of Fame in 1994.

After retiring from his NBA career in 1977, love transitioned into a full-time role as protector and caretaker for Wilson, the musical genius behind the Beach Boys who struggled with mental health issues and drug problems due to his exceptional talent. For the next five years, Love accompanied the band on tour.

As a die-hard film fan, let me rephrase that in my own words: Back then, Dennis Wilson, Beach Boys’ drummer and Brian’s brother, was giving Brian drugs, specifically cocaine. At a certain point, I felt it was necessary to stop this. So, I teamed up with Rocky Pamplin, a former football player from Oregon, and we pretended to be police officers. We stormed Dennis’ house in Bel Air and gave him a good beating.

Music

As a devoted cinephile, I share that the legendary musician Brian Wilson from The Beach Boys had his conservatorship established in Los Angeles on Thursday, just after the unfortunate passing of his long-term caregiver spouse, Melinda Wilson, back in January.

Love was fined $750, placed on six months probation and a mutual restraining order was issued.

In 2019, Love expressed his thoughts: “Did you believe [Dennis] understood the message?” He said, “Brian is quite vulnerable and faces significant mental issues. It angered me when someone provided him with cocaine. People usually receive what they merit.

In May, 2024, three months following the passing of his wife Melinda, Brian Wilson, aged 82, found himself under a conservatorship. Prior to this, Melinda had been providing primary care for him. Meanwhile, Mike Love, also 84, continues to serve as the lead vocalist of the band.

Mike’s been remarkable, consistently managing that brand while keeping them on tour over the years, according to Love. The audience range spans from teenagers to individuals in their eighties. They’ve compiled an impressive collection of work.

The Loves hailed from Baldwin Hills, with Stan being the fourth-born among six siblings of Milt and Glee Love. Milt worked as a union sheet metal worker, while Glee found joy in playing piano and singing. The Wilsons, their cousins, resided nearby in Hawthorne, and in 1961 they formed the Beach Boys. Brian, Carl, Dennis Wilson, rhythm guitarist Al Jardine, and Mike Love (who was in his twenties by then) were part of this young band.

Stan shared that our family living room was filled with a cello, a harp, a Steinway piano, and other musical instruments during his childhood. He recounted how they often gathered to sing together. Stan’s mother was particularly passionate about the arts; she even took him to watch opera performances at Hollywood Bowl when he was just 12 years old. Despite this exposure, music is something Stan appreciates, can carry a melody, but doesn’t personally play any musical instruments.

Review

‘The Beach Boys’ is a sentimental documentary that downplays the band’s squabbles

Starting this Friday on Disney+, “The Beach Boys” offers a concise account of the band’s past, richly illustrated with historical photos and personal home videos, much of which is previously unseen.

Love, indeed, knew how to play basketball, and he imparted this talent onto Kevin, a renowned former UCLA player, who maintained a strong bond with his dad throughout his career.

Kevin Love shared on Instagram, ‘I’m incredibly proud to be your son, Dad.’ All I’ve ever desired is for you to feel the same way about me. Thanks for everything.

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2025-04-29 00:01

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