Kevin Love vs. Darnell Valentine Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Darnell Valentine and Kevin Love, from their rookie seasons to their last year played, in chronological order with awards, stats, championships and playoff performance of their teams every year.

Player comparisons:
Career comparison / Season by season

Who had the better rookie season? Who had best stats in their 10th season? Who won a championship first? These questions and many others, are answered here.

Kevin Love played 16 years in the NBA, 7 more than Darnell Valentine, who played 9. Kevin Love had the first of his seasons in 2008-09, while Darnell Valentine had his rookie season in 1981-82. With that starting point, here you can take a look at each of their seasons side by side and compare how their careers evolved in achivements, awards and championships won, the stats they recorded both in the Regular Season and the Playoffs and how their teams performed in the postseason.

Their Careers

Player
Total Seasons Playoffs Played NBA Years
Kevin Love 16 6 2008-09 to 2023-24
Darnell Valentine 9 4 1981-82 to 1990-91

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:
1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-13-14-15-16

Rookie Season

Kevin Love Darnell Valentine
Season 2008-091981-82
Team Minnesota TimberwolvesPortland Trail Blazers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Rookie Second Team-
Playoffs Did Not PlayDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Kevin Love 81 25.3 11.1 3.4 5.7 9.1 1.0 0.4 0.6 1.5 2.5 3.9 8.5 .459 0.0 0.2 .105 3.3 4.1 .789
Darnell Valentine 82 16.9 6.4 0.6 1.2 1.8 3.3 1.1 0.0 1.5 2.3 2.3 5.5 .413 0.0 0.1 .000 1.9 2.4 .760
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Kevin Love ------- --- ----------
Darnell Valentine ------- --- ----------

Season 2

Kevin Love Darnell Valentine
Season 2009-101982-83
Team Minnesota TimberwolvesPortland Trail Blazers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayTrail Blazers Lost West Conf Semis
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Kevin Love 60 28.6 14.0 3.8 7.2 11.0 2.3 0.7 0.4 2.0 2.3 4.9 10.8 .450 0.6 1.8 .330 3.8 4.6 .815
Darnell Valentine 47 27.6 12.5 0.7 1.8 2.5 6.2 2.1 0.1 2.8 3.0 4.4 9.8 .454 0.0 0.0 .000 3.6 4.5 .793
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Kevin Love ------- --- ----------
Darnell Valentine 7 29.3 12.1 0.7 1.4 2.1 8.7 1.4 0.4 2.7 3.0 4.9 11.4 .425 0.1 0.3 .500 2.3 3.0 .762

Season 3

Kevin Love Darnell Valentine
Season 2010-111983-84
Team Minnesota TimberwolvesPortland Trail Blazers
Honors & Awards Achievement Most Improved Player-
Achievement Rebounds Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Did Not PlayTrail Blazers Lost West Conf 1st Rd
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Kevin Love 73 35.8 20.2 4.5 10.7 15.2 2.5 0.6 0.4 2.1 2.0 6.6 14.1 .470 1.2 2.9 .417 5.8 6.8 .850
Darnell Valentine 68 27.8 10.2 0.7 1.1 1.9 5.8 1.6 0.1 2.2 2.6 3.7 8.3 .447 0.0 0.0 .000 2.9 3.6 .789
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Kevin Love ------- --- ----------
Darnell Valentine 5 35.6 18.4 0.6 1.6 2.2 8.4 1.8 0.2 2.2 4.6 6.0 12.0 .500 0.0 0.0 - 6.4 7.0 .914

Season 4

Kevin Love Darnell Valentine
Season 2011-121984-85
Team Minnesota TimberwolvesPortland Trail Blazers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Did Not PlayTrail Blazers Lost West Conf Semis
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Kevin Love 55 39.0 26.0 4.1 9.2 13.3 2.0 0.9 0.5 2.3 2.8 8.6 19.3 .448 1.9 5.1 .372 6.9 8.4 .824
Darnell Valentine 75 30.4 11.6 0.7 2.2 2.9 7.0 1.9 0.1 2.6 2.5 4.3 9.1 .473 0.0 0.0 .000 3.1 3.9 .793
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Kevin Love ------- --- ----------
Darnell Valentine 9 27.1 12.8 0.7 1.2 1.9 6.4 1.8 0.0 2.3 3.1 4.8 9.8 .489 0.0 0.0 - 3.2 3.4 .935

Season 5

Kevin Love Darnell Valentine
Season 2012-131985-86
Team Minnesota TimberwolvesPortland Trail Blazers, Los Angeles Clippers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Kevin Love 18 34.3 18.3 3.6 10.4 14.0 2.3 0.7 0.5 2.2 1.9 5.8 16.6 .352 1.1 5.1 .217 5.6 7.9 .704
Darnell Valentine 62 19.6 7.4 0.5 1.5 2.0 4.0 1.2 0.0 1.9 2.0 2.6 6.3 .415 0.1 0.2 .286 2.1 2.8 .743
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Kevin Love ------- --- ----------
Darnell Valentine ------- --- ----------

Season 6

Kevin Love Darnell Valentine
Season 2013-141986-87
Team Minnesota TimberwolvesLos Angeles Clippers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Did Not PlayDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Kevin Love 77 36.3 26.1 2.9 9.6 12.5 4.4 0.8 0.5 2.5 1.8 8.4 18.5 .457 2.5 6.6 .376 6.8 8.2 .821
Darnell Valentine 65 27.1 11.2 0.6 1.7 2.3 6.9 1.8 0.2 2.6 2.3 4.2 10.3 .410 0.2 0.9 .232 2.5 3.1 .815
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Kevin Love ------- --- ----------
Darnell Valentine ------- --- ----------

Season 7

Kevin Love Darnell Valentine
Season 2014-151987-88
Team Cleveland CavaliersLos Angeles Clippers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Cavaliers Lost NBA FinalsDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Kevin Love 75 33.8 16.4 1.9 7.9 9.7 2.2 0.7 0.5 1.6 1.9 5.5 12.7 .434 1.9 5.2 .367 3.4 4.3 .804
Darnell Valentine 79 20.7 7.1 0.5 1.5 2.0 4.8 1.5 0.1 1.9 1.7 2.8 6.7 .418 0.2 0.4 .455 1.3 1.7 .743
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Kevin Love 4 26.8 14.3 1.5 5.5 7.0 2.5 0.3 0.5 1.5 3.0 4.3 10.3 .415 2.3 5.3 .429 3.5 4.8 .737
Darnell Valentine ------- --- ----------

Season 8

Kevin Love Darnell Valentine
Season 2015-161988-89
Team Cleveland CavaliersCleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionCavaliers Lost East Conf 1st Rd
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Kevin Love 77 31.5 16.0 1.9 8.0 9.9 2.4 0.8 0.5 1.8 2.1 5.3 12.7 .419 2.1 5.7 .360 3.4 4.1 .822
Darnell Valentine 77 14.1 4.8 0.3 1.1 1.3 2.3 0.7 0.1 1.1 1.1 1.8 4.1 .426 0.0 0.2 .214 1.2 1.5 .813
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Kevin Love 20 30.7 14.7 1.7 7.1 8.8 2.1 0.5 0.4 1.4 1.7 4.6 12.0 .385 2.3 5.6 .414 3.2 3.8 .840
Darnell Valentine 5 16.0 4.2 0.6 0.8 1.4 3.2 1.0 0.0 1.0 1.4 1.4 4.0 .350 0.0 0.0 - 1.4 1.6 .875

Note: Darnell Valentine didn't play in 1989-90.

Season 9

Kevin Love Darnell Valentine
Season 2016-171990-91
Team Cleveland CavaliersCleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Cavaliers Lost NBA FinalsDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Kevin Love 60 31.4 19.0 2.5 8.6 11.1 1.9 0.9 0.4 2.0 2.1 6.2 14.5 .427 2.4 6.5 .373 4.3 4.9 .871
Darnell Valentine 65 28.3 9.4 0.6 2.1 2.6 5.4 1.5 0.2 1.9 2.6 3.5 7.6 .464 0.1 0.4 .240 2.2 2.6 .831
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Kevin Love 18 32.1 16.8 2.0 8.6 10.6 1.7 1.2 0.9 1.7 2.6 5.3 12.1 .436 2.8 6.2 .450 3.5 4.2 .840
Darnell Valentine ------- --- ----------

Season 10

Kevin Love Darnell Valentine
Season 2017-18-
Team Cleveland Cavaliers-
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Cavaliers Lost NBA Finals-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Kevin Love 59 28.0 17.6 1.7 7.5 9.3 1.7 0.7 0.4 1.5 2.0 5.7 12.4 .458 2.3 5.6 .415 4.0 4.5 .880
Darnell Valentine ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Kevin Love 21 31.4 14.9 2.3 7.9 10.2 1.6 0.7 0.4 2.0 2.8 5.2 13.2 .392 1.7 5.0 .340 2.8 3.0 .922
Darnell Valentine ------- --- ----------

Season 11

Kevin Love Darnell Valentine
Season 2018-19-
Team Cleveland Cavaliers-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not Play-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Kevin Love 22 27.2 17.0 1.5 9.4 10.9 2.2 0.3 0.2 1.9 2.5 5.0 12.9 .385 2.4 6.7 .361 4.7 5.2 .904
Darnell Valentine ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Kevin Love ------- --- ----------
Darnell Valentine ------- --- ----------

Season 12

Kevin Love Darnell Valentine
Season 2019-20-
Team Cleveland Cavaliers-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not Play-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Kevin Love 56 31.8 17.6 1.0 8.8 9.8 3.2 0.6 0.3 2.5 1.6 5.8 13.0 .450 2.6 7.0 .374 3.3 3.9 .854
Darnell Valentine ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Kevin Love ------- --- ----------
Darnell Valentine ------- --- ----------

Season 13

Kevin Love Darnell Valentine
Season 2020-21-
Team Cleveland Cavaliers-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not Play-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Kevin Love 25 24.9 12.2 0.7 6.8 7.4 2.5 0.6 0.1 1.5 1.0 4.1 10.1 .409 2.3 6.2 .365 1.7 2.0 .824
Darnell Valentine ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Kevin Love ------- --- ----------
Darnell Valentine ------- --- ----------

Season 14

Kevin Love Darnell Valentine
Season 2021-22-
Team Cleveland Cavaliers-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not Play-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Kevin Love 74 22.5 13.6 1.2 6.1 7.2 2.2 0.4 0.2 1.3 1.4 4.4 10.3 .430 2.5 6.4 .392 2.2 2.7 .838
Darnell Valentine ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Kevin Love ------- --- ----------
Darnell Valentine ------- --- ----------

Season 15

Kevin Love Darnell Valentine
Season 2022-23-
Team Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Heat Lost NBA Finals-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Kevin Love 62 20.0 8.2 1.0 5.5 6.4 1.9 0.3 0.2 1.1 1.6 2.7 6.8 .389 1.6 4.8 .334 1.3 1.5 .879
Darnell Valentine ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Kevin Love 20 18.0 6.9 0.7 4.9 5.6 1.2 0.5 0.4 0.5 1.8 2.3 6.0 .378 1.7 4.4 .375 0.7 0.8 .875
Darnell Valentine ------- --- ----------

Season 16

Kevin Love Darnell Valentine
Season 2023-24-
Team Miami Heat-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Heat Lost East Conf 1st Rd-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Kevin Love 55 16.8 8.8 1.1 5.1 6.1 2.1 0.3 0.2 0.9 1.8 2.9 6.5 .440 1.5 4.4 .344 1.5 2.0 .787
Darnell Valentine ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Kevin Love 5 6.4 1.8 0.2 2.6 2.8 0.8 0.0 0.0 0.4 0.4 0.8 1.8 .444 0.2 0.8 .250 0.0 0.0 -
Darnell Valentine ------- --- ----------