Is Stan Love related to Mike Love from Beach Boys? All about the family as NBA player dies at 76

Stan Love, former NBA player has died at the of 76. He was the father of Miami Heat player Kevin Love and the brother of Beach Boys frontman Mike Love.

His son shared the news of his demise on April 27, 2025, on his Instagram, and explained how his father had been battling a disease for a long time and how “these past 6 months” have been “the most painful to witness.” He called him his “protector” and his “first hero.”

“The words we continuously heard from you in your last chapter were how blessed you’ve been to have such a loving family. And in return how much you’ve loved your wife and kids. Your only wish was to be at home surrounded by your family when you took your dying breath.”

Love was the younger brother of Mike Love, per Associated Press. He had also been a one-time caretaker for his cousin Brian Wilson. Stan and his siblings grew up in Baldwin Hills, and he was the fourth of the six children born to his parents, Milt and Glee Love, per the Los Angeles Times.

Here is everything you need to know about Stan love and his family

Stan Love is survived by his children Kevin, Collin Emily, and his wife Karen. According to multiple reports, Kevin had been away from his team for personal reasons. He has already been ruled out for Game 4 of the playoff series against the Cleveland Cavaliers. He reportedly missed the final 22 games of the season.

According to a report by the Associated Press, Stan introduced his son, Kevin, to basketball after their family moved from California to Oregon in the 1980s. He attended UCLA games with Mike Love when Kevin was just a freshman.

While speaking to the outlet in 2008, he discussed how his father inspired him. Kevin is the middle child and Stan’s second son with wife Karen.

“He'd always tell me stories about Wes Unseld, Connie Hawkins, Jerry West. I wanted to be the greatest basketball player of all time, like every little kid wanted to be.”

Kevin’s younger sister, Emily Love, is a horse lover. She too paid tribute to her later father, while writing that she is “heartbroken” and she “will never recover from” this loss. She referred to him as an “amazing father, husband, and grandfather.”

Collin Love is Stan Love's eldest child. According to a report in Los Angeles Time, Stan Love married his wife Karen Love in 1986.

Stan’s elder brother, Mike Love paid his tribute to him on his social media where he stated, how Stan had been dealing with health issues over a long period. He wrote:

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“My big younger brother, you called me the superstar, but to me you are the superstar!! You always had my back! I am blessed to be your brother. I will cherish our lives spent together, whether spoofing on each other or reliving memories.”

According to a report in Rolling Stone, Love was 6 feet and 9 inches. He was drafted in 1971 by the Baltimore Bullets (now the Washington Wizards) with the ninth overall pick. He earlier played college basketball at the University of Oregon.

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