Caleb Love: Football | Stats | Parents | NBA Draft | Contract — Complete Bio & Career Breakdown
Caleb Love has emerged as one of the more intriguing young guards in basketball — a player with talent and scoring instincts who took a unique path to the NBA. This deep-dive profile explores every angle of his life and career, including an unexpected football background, his collegiate success, key stats, draft experience, personal background, contract details, and what fans can expect moving forward.
Table of Contents
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Early Life & Family Background
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Athletic Beginnings: Football & Basketball
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High School Basketball Career
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College Journey: UNC & Arizona
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Caleb Love College Stats & Achievements
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NBA Draft 2025: What Happened
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Professional Career & Two-Way Contract
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NBA Stats & Playing Style
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Strengths, Weaknesses & Fan Reactions
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Personal Life & Interests
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Future Outlook in the NBA
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FAQs
1. Early Life & Family Background
Caleb Khristopher Love was born on September 27, 2001, in St. Louis, Missouri. He grew up in a sports-centered family where athletic competition and academics went hand in hand.
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Parents: His father is Dennis Love and his mother is Alecia Thompson.
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His father played college football, which gave Caleb early exposure to athletic discipline and competitive sports.
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Caleb was an honors student growing up, reflecting strong performance both on and off the court.
While he became known for his basketball talents, his family’s athletic roots included multi-sport influences, especially through his father’s football experience.
2. Athletic Beginnings: Football & Basketball
Although Caleb Love is best known for basketball today, his early athletic life included participation in football and other sports:
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In high school, Love played multiple sports, including football and even bowls and mini-golf, showing his diverse athletic skill set.
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His football experience wasn’t at a collegiate or professional level like his basketball achievements, but it speaks to his overall athleticism and coordination — traits that helped in his basketball development.
This athletic versatility is common among elite guards and often contributes to better physical competitiveness and spatial awareness on the basketball court.
3. High School Basketball Career
Caleb Love attended Christian Brothers College High School in St. Louis, Missouri — a school with a rich basketball heritage.
During his high school career:
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Love became one of the most decorated high school players in Missouri.
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He averaged 26.3 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 3.1 assists as a senior, showcasing scoring ability and leadership.
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Love was a McDonald’s All-American selection, one of the highest honors in high school basketball.
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He scored a career-best 42 points in a single game and became only the second player in school history to surpass 2,000 career points.
This dominance set the stage for his college recruitment, where he was a highly ranked national prospect.
4. College Journey: UNC & Arizona
North Carolina (UNC)
Caleb Love began his collegiate career at the University of North Carolina (UNC) — one of the most prestigious basketball programs in the U.S.
At UNC:
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Love quickly became a key contributor as a freshman.
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He displayed leadership, scoring, and clutch shooting against top competition.
Transfer to Arizona
After three seasons with UNC (2020–23), Love transferred to the University of Arizona:
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At Arizona, he elevated his production and earned major accolades.
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In the 2023–24 season, Love was named Pac-12 Player of the Year.
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In the 2024–25 campaign, he earned First-Team All-Big 12 honors, continuing his impactful play.
His time at both programs showed his ability to adapt and excel in different systems — a huge plus for evaluators.
5. Caleb Love College Stats & Achievements
Across his college career, Caleb Love compiled impressive numbers:
Career College Stats
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Across 174 games (169 starts) over five seasons at UNC and Arizona:
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15.9 points per game
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3.8 rebounds per game
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3.4 assists per game
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1.1 steals per game
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Key Highlights
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Pac-12 Player of the Year (2023–24)
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First-Team All-Big 12 (2024–25)
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One of the few players in NCAA history to score 1,000+ points at two different Division I schools.
While Love’s shooting efficiency wasn’t always elite, his scoring volume and impact were undeniable in college.
6. NBA Draft 2025: What Happened
Despite strong collegiate production, Caleb Love went undrafted in the 2025 NBA Draft — a surprising outcome for many fans.
Reasons analysts cite include:
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Concerns about efficiency and decision-making.
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Questions about his role projection at the NBA level — combo guard vs. playmaker.
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A deep 2025 draft class reducing opportunities for borderline prospects.
However, not being drafted did not mark the end of his NBA dreams.
7. Professional Career & Two-Way Contract
Shortly after the draft, Caleb Love signed a two-way contract with the Portland Trail Blazers.
Contract Details
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Signed a two-way deal, meaning he splits time between the NBA roster and the Rip City Remix (G League).
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He’s eligible to play up to 50 NBA games while still gaining development time.
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Expected earnings reported around $636,435 in base salary (approximately half the NBA rookie minimum).
This structure is common for undrafted rookies who show potential but need seasoning before full-time NBA minutes.
8. NBA Stats & Playing Style
Caleb Love’s early NBA season stats show a young player finding his footing:
2025–26 NBA Regular Season (Portland Trail Blazers)
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Points per game: ~7.9
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Rebounds: ~2.4
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Assists: ~2.0
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FG %: ~34-36%
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3P %: ~26-28%
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FT %: ~78-79%
These numbers reflect a bench role with limited minutes, but there are flashes of scoring ability.
Playing Style
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Love is known as a combo guard with creation and scoring instincts.
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Strengths include shot creation, fearless scoring, and competitive fire.
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Areas for improvement: efficiency, shot selection, and defensive impact.
Even with inconsistencies, coaches value his ability to put points on the board.
9. Strengths, Weaknesses & Fan Reactions
Strengths
Scoring instincts and aggressiveness
Proven winner at the college level
Versatile guard with playmaking ability
Mental toughness and competitive edge
Weaknesses
Inconsistent shooting efficiency
Turnovers under pressure
Defensive effort sometimes questioned
NBA readiness debated by analysts
Fan Reactions
Blazers fans are split — some celebrate his high-scoring potential, while others critique his inconsistency and shot selection.
10. Personal Life & Interests
Off the court, Caleb Love keeps a relatively low public profile.
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He values family and credits his parents for early athletic grounding.
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Known to be an honors-level student growing up, showing intelligence and discipline.
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Outside basketball, he enjoys time with friends and exploring hobbies common among young athletes.
11. Future Outlook in the NBA
At just 24 and on a two-way deal, Caleb Love’s future depends on:
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Development in the G League
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Opportunities with Portland
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Improved efficiency
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Finding a defined role as a scorer or combo guard
If he continues to grow, a standard NBA contract could be in his future.
12. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1. Was Caleb Love a football player?
A: Yes — in high school he played multiple sports, including football, but he became a basketball specialist by college.
Q2. Did Caleb Love get drafted in the 2025 NBA Draft?
A: No — he went undrafted but signed a two-way contract with the Portland Trail Blazers.
Q3. What college did Caleb Love attend?
A: He played at both North Carolina and the University of Arizona.
Q4. What are his NBA stats?
A: As of the 2025–26 season, he averages around 7-8 points, 2-3 rebounds, and 2 assists per game.
Q5. Who are Caleb Love’s parents?
A: His father is Dennis Love and his mother is Alecia Thompson.
Q6. What is a two-way contract?
A: It’s an NBA contract that lets a player split time between the NBA and G League, designed for developing talent.
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