Stan Love

Stanley S. Love (April 9, 1949 – April 27, 2025) was an American professional basketball player in the National Basketball Association (NBA) and American Basketball Association (ABA). He played college basketball for the Oregon Ducks.

Love was the father of basketball player Kevin Love and the younger brother of Beach Boys singer Mike Love. During the late 1970s, Stan was also employed as a bodyguard, trainer, and assistant to the Beach Boys' Brian Wilson, the Loves' cousin.

Background Love grew up in the Baldwin Hills area of Los Angeles and was the fourth of six children to Milton Edward Love, a union sheet metal worker, and Emily Glee Wilson Love, a singer. His older brother is Mike Love. Mike, along with cousins Brian, Carl, and Dennis Wilson, later formed the Beach Boys.

Basketball career

A 6'9" forward, Love graduated from Morningside High School (where he was a center in his senior year), Inglewood, California, then played collegiately for the Oregon Ducks from 1968 to 1971.

Love was the 9th pick in the 1971 NBA draft, chosen by the Baltimore Bullets. He was also selected by the Dallas Chaparrals in the 1971 ABA draft. He had also been selected in the 1970 ABA Draft by the Texas Chaparrals while still an underclassman.

Love had a four-year professional career with Baltimore, the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association, and the San Antonio Spurs, then of the American Basketball Association. He retired from the sport in 1975, with per-game averages of 6.6 points, 3.9 rebounds and 2.5 fouls for 14.7 minutes in 239 career games. In 1982, Love and Pamplin were fined $750 and placed on six months' probation for a home invasion and assault on group member Dennis Wilson. In 1990, Love filed a petition to be appointed Brian Wilson's conservator, partly resulting in the court-ordered severing of personal and financial ties between Wilson and his therapist Eugene Landy in 1991.

Personal life and death Love married Karen in 1986 Love resided in Lake Oswego, Oregon.

Stan Love died following a long, degenerative illness on April 27, 2025, at the age of 76.

Love was the brother of musician Mike Love and Pink Martini harpist Maureen Love.

Career statistics

NBA/ABA Source:

Regular season Year Team GP MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG

Playoffs Year Team GP MPG FG% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG