INDEPENDENCE, Ohio -- Kevin Love has already accomplished plenty during his NBA career. He’s a five-time All-Star, Olympic gold medalist, two-time Second Team All-NBA, 3-Point Champion and rebounding leader.

He carries a label that can never be stripped: NBA champion, helping the Cleveland Cavaliers cap their historic comeback against the Golden State Warriors, stifling Stephen Curry in the closing moments of Game 7 of the 2016 NBA Finals -- a portrait that has been memorialized throughout Cleveland’s transformed arena.

Now 31, Love is entering the next chapter of his career, armed with scars that show where’s been and what he’s endured -- physically and mentally -- during 11 NBA seasons. The days of retreating into the shadows of LeBron James and Kyrie Irving, embracing the vital role of Cleveland’s third wheel during a four-year Eastern Conference procession, are over.

He’s no longer the willing follower. He’s the quiet leader. While rumors constantly fly about his future, Love is exactly where he wants to be, where he chose to be two summers ago.

He has no interest in that changing.

“I do want to be here. I always have,” Love told cleveland.com in an exclusive one-on-one interview. “I say that knowing it’s the NBA and it’s a business. I think especially after seeing last year, the summer leading up to last year and this summer, the changeover is like unprecedented so you don’t know what is going to happen.

“If they decide to go completely young … and that could be the case, but it’s funny, my agent didn’t call me one time this summer to say, ‘Hey, you’re getting traded, there’s talks that this is happening.’ Of course, somehow it’s still out there and people are talking about, ‘Oh, Kevin would be great here or great there.’ I just keep it moving and try to do right by these guys because we have a good group.”

Early in his career, Love would’ve been annoyed with the outside noise. Just a few years ago his answer would have been far more curt. Today, he laughs it off.

In his second year with the Cavs, Love brought a “clickbait” story to LeBron at practice, one that misrepresented something Love said.

“I was like, ‘Hey man, this is what I said, not the headline.’ He said, ‘Kev, you can’t f------ let people like that tear us apart.’ He was like, ‘Don’t even come to me with that. I know us. I know we’re good, whatever.’

“It’s kind of like the same thing with rumors. I know things come up, you would see certain things or people would ask me and I would just be like, ‘I don’t know. I don’t have a call. Nobody has been having this conversation with me.’ Until that time comes just keep my head down and keep moving.”

That’s what Love has done. A few days ago, while talking with teammate Matthew Dellavedova, it hit him -- He’s the oldest player on the roster.

Last year, in the first season without LeBron, Love had locker room lieutenant and buddy Channing Frye. Veteran Kyle Korver was also around for the first few months before a trade to the Utah Jazz. George Hill and JR Smith were as well. Not anymore. Love is the elder statesman, the only player over 30 on a team shifted into player development mode.

“Look at how much youth we have on our squad now,” he said. “My time in Cleveland could eventually come. I know it’s been the talk every single year, but I’ve gotten -- I’m not going to say comfortable because comfortable is the wrong word -- but I feel comfortable here. I love where I live, I’ve embraced you guys, I’ve embraced the city and the fans, but at the end of the day, given a long-enough timeline, who you work for or somebody you work for will eventually change up and turn.

"I know whether it’s the next four, six or seven years here or whether it’s the next four months, I’m just going to be me and continue to give it all I can. I really do think, especially with (John Beilein), I can get a lot better.”

Lessons have been learned, now lessons need to be taught

On July 24, 2018, Love signed a four-year, $120 million extension with the Cavaliers. It was 23 days after LeBron joined the Los Angeles Lakers in a move that drastically altered Cleveland’s path. Despite myriad uncertainty, and what was likely to be a revamped roster, Love committed to Cleveland. And the organization committed to him.

Love explained his many reasons for signing that extension, for taking $8 million less than his full max. One of them: a new challenge.

With LeBron in LA, Love was ready to become a leader for, really, the first time in his career. In Minnesota, he was the team’s best player, but admits now he was too young and immature. He didn’t have many veteran mentors and arrived in Cleveland with some bad habits.

With the Cavs, the initial excitement that surrounded his arrival dwindled as he often turned into an easy target when the team failed to match the early hype.

“I didn’t know what it really meant to sacrifice,” Love said. “Go from the No. 1 guy and always having the ball in my hands to being relocated on the floor and used as somebody who was going to let the two primary guys be them. That was great for us and I would fill in that third role and kind of smooth out the edges in a big way.”

The franchise focal point going into the 2018-19 season, Love -- seasoned and hardened -- was eager to guide Collin Sexton through his rookie year. He was ready to help young Cedi Osman get through the ups and downs of an inexperienced NBA starter at one of the league’s most talent-rich positions. He used a LeBron tool, gathering the guys for a pre-camp workout in Miami for some work and team-bonding.

Love was making a smooth transition before the preseason opener, when he suffered a nagging toe injury. It eventually derailed his season, forcing him out after the fourth regular season game. Eventually, he opted for surgery which sidelined him until February. The player the Cavs couldn’t afford to be without, Love’s absence led to a pile of losses that caused discord to trickle into the locker room.

It was a fluke injury, not at all Love’s fault, but according to Sexton, Love apologized for not always being on the bench or around the team during some dark times.

By the time Love returned, the Cavs were an on-court mess, looking destined to finish with the league’s worst record.

Leadership by example

(Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)

After not getting enough time to foster their relationship last season, Love tried to make up for it by texting Sexton frequently this summer. The two realized they had something in common. Sexton was peeved about his Rising Stars snub. Back in Love’s first year, he went through the same. Then, when Sexton was named second team All-Rookie instead of first team, it was another shared experience.

“I was like, ‘You can still go out there and I believe you are a first team All-Rookie guy and you’re going to be great in this league so just go out there and kick ass,’” Love said. “I think for him it was big to have a big second half of the year and show, ‘Hey, I’m Collin Sexton m-----f-----.’ He had a really great second half and I thought he should have been first team, but hopefully that will drive him even more.”

In other text chats, Love asked Sexton what he was working on, how his body was feeling, how Sexton’s family was doing, where he was spending the summer and whether there was time to meet up.

“I think Collin and I, our relationship has gotten much more vocal,” Love said. “Not that it was bad or good, but we didn’t have that much commentary. Just continue to talk, been having fun with it, laughing, trying to figure out our two-man game and I know it’s his second year and he’s going to have the ball in his hands, but he’s gotta help lead us too.”

Love also organized another round of pre-camp workouts, this time in New York where Love spends a bulk of his summer. At least, when he’s not traveling the world.

The Cavs raved about his leadership in New York and pointed out his physical condition. He met up with Beilein a few times, a chance to nurture a relationship with the new coach and discuss how Love can thrive in this system.

“He’s been so involved and his buy-in has been tremendous,” Beilein said. “He realizes the way our offense works, everybody’s going to touch it a lot, it’s not going to stop. We’d be crazy not to use his passing skills and Larry Nance’s passing skills in our offense -- playing through them just as much as a normal guard.”

According to sources, Love even reported to camp early, another example of his all-in approach. It was “huge” to have him around for those few extra days, according to one member of the organization, and it wasn’t overlooked by coaches or teammates. Love’s learned over the years that everyone has their own leadership style. He’s not trying to emulate anyone else. He’s just being himself and it’s working well.

But he’s not the only one. The Cavs have a few leaders, and Sexton has been looking to take the necessary steps to enter that group, trying to use Love as an example.

“He’s just coming in every day ready to work. Pretty much being there for all of us,” Sexton said. “That’s big on his part because he’s a superstar and he doesn’t have to do any of that. He can come in, get his work done and then go home. But he comes, sticks around late and is there every day ready to work. He’s been there every step of the way, always giving us words of wisdom.”

According to Love, Tristan Thompson is the vocal leader. He barks out demonstrative instructions during games. He fires the team up in the huddle before tipoff. Nance considers himself a lead-by-example kind of guy. The same goes for Love. He doesn’t give impassioned speeches. He likes to show authority through work ethic and professionalism. He tries to lead on an individual basis. He also asks questions.

“It’s a group of many different personalities, backgrounds and people. I try to get the best out of everybody, get a rise out of everybody by getting to know them and who they are,” Love said. “I’m always getting my work in, always getting there early and staying late, taking care of my body. But I’m not like a rah rah guy. Some guys are. I’m more locked in and preparing for war. I think it continues to change and evolve, both on and off the floor now and starting to try to become a leader and walk that walk.

“I’ve always said, sometimes you have to learn how to follow before you learn how to lead. You have to pick different spots. I also think Coach Beilein will help that a lot with a number of guys. Not only being a better player, but being a better man as well.”

When asked whether he’s waking up at 3:30 a.m. like Jimmy Butler does in Miami, Love couldn’t help but smile.

“Come on man. It’s a long season,” Love said. “I think Jimmy is an amazing player, but I think there are some things that are for show. We’ve been putting in long hours so us getting up at 3:30 and getting in there is not going to do anything for us but make us mad.”

Nevertheless, Love strives to be the first player on the practice floor.

On Sunday, the Cavs held their sixth straight practice. Players were mentally fried. Physically, they didn’t have it. The energy wasn’t there. Training camp can take a toll, even more so when trying to learn new systems, language and voices.

Because there will be more moments like this throughout the season, perhaps at the end of a lengthy road trip or in a meaty month with a few back-to-backs, Love saw a chance to step up.

“I told the guys, ‘Look, I know we don’t have our legs right now and we have been spending a lot of time on our feet running, we’re a young team with a lot to learn, we only won 19 games last year so we have to make sure we push through days like this.’ It’s little stuff like that,” Love said.

A Beilein believer

(Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)

Last season -- 19-63, one of the worst marks in franchise history -- was tough on everyone. It brought about plenty of valuable lessons. One thing Love -- and many other players -- learned was patience.

“I don’t think any of us signed up for that,” Love admitted. “Some people blow smoke and say, ‘Oh yeah, I’m really excited for the year.’ But I really think Coach has breathed new life into us and for me it’s a breath of fresh air too.”

Love has raved about Beilein’s back-to-the-basics approach, feeling like he’s home with his dad, who used to teach him the fundamentals that laid the foundation for a terrific NBA career.

Sometimes different isn’t always accepted. As Beilein recently said, the rookies haven’t experienced anything else at the NBA level. They buy in immediately. But Beilein has to explain to the veterans why they are running certain drills or focusing on little things -- pivoting, passing with seams, footwork, Mikan Drill.

“Oh trust me, there’s definitely been pushback,” Love said. “I think it’s an adjustment period for everybody.

"I’ve had to learn to be more understanding. You have to take a step back and realize that he’s been doing this for so long. At this level it’s going to be an adjustment no matter what. Even when you take that one seat over from head assistant to the main coaching position, that’s a big jump too. You have to understand that dynamic.

“The biggest thing I feel is communication because players will sit and talk behind the scenes, but sometimes you have to stop somebody in the tracks, sometimes you have to extend an olive branch. What’s the basis of any good relationship? Communication. You have to have that. Even with the head coach.”

Love said the first few practices were “really f------ hard.” But he liked them. Felt they were needed. He’s backing the new style. A serene voice that goes a long way in Cleveland’s locker room, Love has stated as much publicly, believing this group will benefit.

Everything at practice has a purpose, with each drill designed to translate to a game situation. There are two weeks before the regular season opener, but players are already starting to understand that results could come quicker than expected.

“Guys are going to get better. I’m going to get better,” Love said. “I will probably be a better leader for it. I know that I’m going to have my moments (of frustration) because we’re all human and we have a young team. ... But I’m trying to be better from a leadership role on the floor because if I’m going to walk that walk on both sides, if I’m going to be an advocate for the things I’m super passionate about and that I deal with every single day, I too have to bring it to what I love the most and it’s this game.

“I swear, I’m glad I met Coach, because even if I’m not here I still want to be close to him in some way. He reminds me a lot of like a John Wooden in a way. He’s going to get the best out of every day. You never want to wish away your time with anything, but in the NBA you’re burning it from both sides and he’s just trying to get the most out of it.

"Hopefully he can get me through those tough days that I have mentally or physically. I think we can take a big step forward this year, especially winning a lot more than 19 games.”

‘I will always do right by Cleveland’

The Cavs’ stance on Love hasn’t changed. If the right trade offer comes they will certainly consider it. But according to sources, the Cavs have to be “blown away” with a package combining players and picks. While the phone continues to ring -- other executives trying to pry away the Cavs’ cornerstone -- the organization places great value, both in the short and long term, on Love’s far-reaching impact on the youngsters.

Sometime, in the middle of a lengthy losing streak, displeasure will inevitably build. Love will have some lousy moments. As he said, rebuilds are a constant test -- of will, fortitude, perseverance. It’s his job as one of the team leaders to stay positive and keep this impressionable squad from splintering. He has to keep reminding himself of the daily value he brings.

Love actually had one of those tests recently when the Cavs’ social media team snapped a photo with him hoisting a jumper at Cleveland Clinic Courts. The numerous banners hanging prominently in the background, Love saw the photo and couldn’t help but view it as a reminder of what once was and what now seems so distant.

“Eastern Conference champion. Eastern Conference champion. Division champion. All that stuff,” Love said. “I’m thinking, ‘F---, I really want to be part of that.’ Of course I want to play for a winner. Not that I deserve it, but that’s obviously why you work.”

Only that’s not his current reality. Things could change. They often do quickly in the NBA. But without the promise of wins, players need to find other meaning. He’s done that off the floor, becoming a strong advocate for mental health awareness. On the court, for now, that purpose comes in leading the Cavaliers’ rebuild, setting the organization up for a brighter tomorrow and accepting the responsibility that comes with being the face of a renaissance.

“If they do decide (to move on) then at least I would have laid a really, really great foundation and done right by the whole team,” Love said. “Hopefully people will see that, know that no matter what goes down, how it goes down, I will always do right by the city of Cleveland. They’ve done right by me and stuck with me.”

Get Cavs Insider texts in your phone from Chris Fedor: Cut through the clutter of social media and communicate directly with one of the NBA’s best beat reporters -- just like you would with your friends. It’s just $3.99 a month, which works out to about 13 cents a day. Learn more and sign up here.