We remember what it was like to see Kevin Love wrestle a rebound away from an opponent and the sound of the crowd when he hit a clutch three. But we probably don’t recall what he smelled like.
Well, Ryen Russillo knows. Or at least he did.
Russillo was on Bill Simmons’ podcast, as he is on every Sunday at the end of the NBA season. Towards the end of it, he was talking about how teams go to bat for their players, using the Philadelphia 76ers’ Joel Embiid campaign as evidence.
The Sixers are claiming that Embiid should get credit for leading their team to a 51-31 record despite all the drama around Ben Simmons and James Harden.
“I wouldn’t have it factor into the voting, but I understand, though, from a team standpoint,” said Russillo. “Like [Sixers GM] Daryl [Morey], if you look at him, the team always has to tell the guy, especially in today’s NBA world, that we’ve always had your back.”
“I get it,” said Bill Simmons.
“We have it at every turn, so PR is setting up those interviews,” continued Russillo. “They’re not gonna allow a situation where Embiid has a moment where he can say, ‘Oh, they didn’t have my back.’ And that’s why so many teams are so over the top.
“I mean, the Houston Rockets sent in a Jalen Green Rookie of the Year campaign to the life advice email, because they didn’t have a contact for me.”
Russillo is referencing the email address for the “life advice” part of his personal podcast. But that wasn’t the weirdest thing a team has done. Enter the Minnesota Timberwolves.
“And the thing is, I don’t blame them,” said Russillo. “Back in the ESPN days, I’ll never forget, one of my favorite campaigning items that showed up, the Timberwolves, I don’t remember which award it was for, for Kevin Love, but they sent this Kevin Love cologne. [laughs] It was labeled and this whole thing.”
“Wow,” responded Simmons.
“It was hilarious,” said Russillo, chuckling.
“Do you still have it?” asked Simmons in jest. “You should break that out for parties.”
“I gotta tell ya,” Russillo responded, “I really wish I had it still.”
“The K-Love?” joked Simmons.
“Because now my confidence is to a level where I’ll just douse myself in Kevin Love and go out,” Russillo continued.
“You know, back then I might be like, what if somebody asks me what I’m wearing, and I’m like…
“You’re walking Manhattan Beach,” said Simmons, cutting Russillo off, “and somebody is like, ‘What is that? Are you wearing Kevin Love?’ ‘I am.’”
“I wish that would happen to me now,” said Russillo, “and people would be like, ‘What is that?’ ‘I don’t want to give away any secrets.’ And they’d be like, ‘Is that Kevin Love? Is that Kevin Love 2012?’ I’d be like, ‘It is. It is summer one.’”
Love finished sixth in the MVP voting in 2012, losing out to LeBron James, who won his third MVP award. Teams still send out gifts on behalf of their superstars. This year, the Minnesota Timberwolves are sending out swag to All-NBA voters on behalf of Karl-Anthony Towns.
Everyone loves Kit-Kats and bobbleheads, but get me a bottle of that sweet, sweet K-Love cologne. Chocolate will give you a nice sugar rush, and those TaylorMade golf balls might extend your drive, but Love lasts forever.
