Kevin Love Is Making a Case for a New Kind of Toughness
Welcome to GQ's New Masculinity issue, an exploration of the ways that traditional notions of masculinity are being challenged, overturned, and evolved. Read more about the issue from GQ editor-in-chief Will Welch here and hear Pharrell's take on the matter here.
I remember 2008, I had made it to the NBA, and I was like, “I'm super emotional, but I'm not going to show it.” My playbook from my dad was to never show weakness. Never cry. Always show ruggedness, toughness, in everything you do.
Last year I was in such a terrible place. And I was just suffering silently. After DeMar DeRozan came out and said he dealt with depression, I felt like saying, “Hey, this is what I'm going through.” We still have what you define as masculinity. We still have that ruggedness, that toughness. But we're more evolved in our thinking. You're allowed to be soft. At some point in your life, you're going to have to apply some softness or a gentle touch to something.
Basketball is a very emotional game. I thought it was so cool when Giannis Antetokounmpo just let it all hang out when he accepted the MVP. Water of the heart, right? He was just crying, crying, crying. Showing that vulnerability, to me that's supercool. It's special to see that in our game, we're supposed to be emotional.—As told to Nora Caplan-Bricker
Styled by Jon Tietz
Grooming by Rachel Leidig
How masculinity is morphing and modernizing, according to 18 influential people who are shaping our culture now.
The Cavaliers All-Star talks to GQ about mental health, white privilege, Stephen King novels, and his iconic 2016 Finals moment.
Watch:
10 Things Kevin Love Can’t Live Without
Originally Appeared on GQ
