The Kevin Love Fund launches its social-emotional learning curriculum, which is on a mission to help students express emotions and destigmatize vulnerability. Kevin Love joins Trending to talk more about the mental health program, his NBA career, and LeBron James' retirement plan.  

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Kevin Love Talks New Mental Health Program & NBA Career

NBA Star Kevin Love has a pretty impressive resume on the court, but it's the work that he's doing off it, that's catching our attention on this world mental health day. Yes, Love has become a public spokesperson for mental health awareness among athletes and now he's helping students. Yeah, now the kevin Love Fund is launching a social emotional learning curriculum of 14 lesson planned curriculum supporting students and expressing emotion and stigmatizing challenges with mental health. I caught up, would love to talk all about the program, take a look why is it so important for you to have this mental health support system in the schools? I think it's important because it empowers the youth, Right? I mean, before we came on we were just talking about, you know, getting out ahead of, you know, some of these issues that so many people are dealing with, I feel like everyone is dealing with at some capacity. We always say that everybody is going through something. So it's such a huge thief of, of human potential and to have the next generation actually, um you know, learning how to express themselves and be vulnerable in a, in a social setting, especially in school where we're taught, you know, to go down the hallway, talk to our counselors to talk to the school principal or assistant principal or vice principal, Excuse me. Um now they're actually doing it in the classroom with a teacher that has been there for him that sees them pretty much every single day throughout the week or at least five days a week and they can have these tough conversations that are gonna allow them to be better listeners better communicators and more well rounded individuals. So actually be a curriculum that teachers, counselors, people will be able to use in schools around the country. Yeah, so we actually already have it in 250 schools as of september and that's over 10,000 kids, so it's it's a pretty amazing, you know, thing to see. So many people adopted, we have teachers coming to us through our educators and to our educators as well that want to adopt it within their school, get it in their classroom. And one of the great things that we've seen is not only the impact that it's had on the kids, but I mentioned the teachers, the teachers are getting so much out of it to where they feel that they can lead and be more forward facing with their students and and just be able to have tough conversations, but also, you know, help elevate their kids at an age where it's, it's, it's really needed, these are conversations that I was either afraid to have or there was a taboo or stigma behind it at that age at those teenage years and you know, where you're growing so much, you're so susceptible to change and you're just um you know, really putting your, your yourself out there in front of your peers, I know in the curriculum, you also make the connection between kindness and service and how that's linked to happiness. So what brings you happiness, what brings me happiness? It's funny you actually kind of just said that I'm somebody who um I'm almost like a gift giver or um I like to give myself up even if it's in sports, like it wasn't always the case, but like for the betterment of the team, I like to see other people shine, I like to lift them up because I feel like that that brings me up as well. So happiness is definitely, I mean I was talking about it this morning is is a moving target and it's something that I talk about, you know, a lot in therapy, what that looks like. But um I think again everybody has their own uh you know, things that bring them happiness, but for me, I think it is paying paying it forward for this next generation that feels good to you know, make my stamp and and definitely create a legacy beyond just basketball. I want to make sure I get it right. Five time All Star two time All NBA second team and a 2016 NBA champion. Just to name a few of the things that you've accomplished in your career. What are you focusing on now? I think more than anything, just stepping into a leadership role. I was very fortunate and very fortunate to um, you know, being an organization that we, we all support each other. We all want to see that next man do well and in professional sports, let me tell you, uh, that isn't always the case. So we have uh, you know, young guys, it's funny to hear the old man of course that's what they call me, 34 years old talking about that going into my 15th season. But they are, you know, willing to uh, to listen, they're willing to uh, you know, be coached and they allow me to be a veteran. So I'm looking forward just to be doing that again, play my sixth man role and you know, we just added Donovan Mitchell, it's tough to always see players go that you admire and that you love go to different teams. But I think in picking him up and adding him to our group is gonna be, you know, really move the needle for us. I'm really looking forward to how he impacts our team and hopefully making a deep playoff run. Now. I've heard some rumors that Lebron James may come back to retire with the Cleveland cavaliers. What do you think about that? I think it'd be amazing. Listen, he obviously signed another two year extension with the Lakers, but um, I know Akron and Ohio and Cleveland will hold a very special place in his heart. I know that he wouldn't do it as like a gimmick and that's to say like he would just come back for a game, put on the jersey check in and check back out I think um, if the opportunity presented itself and it was the right thing that, um, you know, I think Lebron would definitely consider, he always weighs his options, he understands he's very smart and has a great team around him. But um, personally, of course I've said it before, I've said it publicly, I would, I would love to see that happen. A great friend of mine, always fun to have around and never a dull moment. I think that the young guys would love, it wouldn't be so young anymore, but the young guys would love to have him around and speaking about his retirement, do you see retirement in your future? Like I'm just getting started listen, like, you know, I definitely feel great played every game last year, um, was available. That was my only goal going into the year. I kind of feel the same this year because if, you know, I feel like my skill set, you know, 14 years in as to the point where if I'm just healthy and I'm feeling good, I'm gonna play well. So, um, you know, as an athlete, you're burning it at both ends, your lifespan is short in terms of, you know how old you'll actually be when you pass. But for me it's, it's definitely just making that as long as I possibly can slowing down the burn and hopefully my, my goal has always been 20 years Kobe Bryant told me And actually Lebron hit this mark this year, was that at 34 years old, Kobe came in. His parents actually to sign his contract. He came into the league at 17 at 34. He was like, I've been in the n B a half. My life was like, I want to be able to say that one day. So that's, that's like, that's a big goal for me. Our special thanks to NBA star Kevin, love for more information. Head over to Kevin Love fund dot org or just scan that QR code on your screen. We made it super easy for you guys.