“What a time to be alive” - NBA fans go crazy as Kevin Love gets warm welcome at Cleveland reminiscing 2016 championship

The Cleveland Cavaliers hosted the Utah Jazz on January 12, 2026. Besides the fact that the Jazz edged the Cavaliers in the game, another moment from the face-off stole the limelight. Kevin Love was present for the game and fans within the stadium gave him a warm welcome with loud cheers. The athlete greeted the fans. It was a nostalgic moment for the player because of his past record with the Cavaliers.

Before joining the Utah Jazz, Kevin was a part of the Cavaliers from 2014 to 2023. During his time with the latter team, Kevin was part of the Cavaliers’ Championship journey in 2016. He was a key player in leading the team to its victory. The warm welcome extended by the Cleveland fans went viral and fans across social media started pouring in their love virtually. Fans even talked about what a time it is to be alive, considering that it has been 10 years since the championship victory.

Fans react to the warm response received by Kevin Love in Cleveland ahead of Utah Jazz’s game

Kevin Love returns to play at the Rocket Arena, Cleveland. He led the Utah Jazz against his former team, the Cleveland Cavaliers. The moment he entered the stadium, fans gave him a warm welcome with a standing ovation. Kevin appreciated the gesture and showed his respects to everyone present in the stadium. The entire incident got captured in a clip and it went viral almost immediately. Fans showered love on the clip.


One of the fans with the username coach_beam1 commented, “K Love always Good in the City.” Another fan even appreciated the kind of love that Kevin received. Big__G.4 added, “Love when guys get their flowers.” A third fan with the username isthxt_aaron wrote, “Crazy to think that finals was 10 years ago … what a time to be alive.”

Fans deep-dived into the aspect of nostalgia, considering the amount of time that has passed since the Cavaliers won the championship in 2016. One of the fans with the username l.h.Scott commented, “we getting old bro.” A fifth fan with the username DJmighty added, “Put Sum Respect on his name ��.”

What happened in the game between the Utah Jazz and the Cleveland Cavaliers?

The Utah Jazz edged the Cleveland Cavaliers by an 11-point lead. Keyonte George became the highest scorer, racking up 32 points with 5 rebounds and 9 assists. Following up, athletes who racked up double-digit scores for the team include Lauri Markkanen, Jusuf Nurkic and Kevin Love. On the part of the Cavaliers, Darius Garland and Donovan Mitchell added 23 and 21 points, respectively.

Also Read: Why did NBA fine Jaylen Brown? Celtics star hit with a $35K penalty

Get the latest WPL 2026 updates including WPL teams, full WPL 2026 schedule, and live scores for Mumbai Indians, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, UP Warriorz, Gujarat Giants, and Delhi Capitals. Also check the latest WPL Orange Cap and Purple Cap standings.