Phil Jackson questioned Kevin Love’s rebounding dominance during his breakout season: “He fouls and gets away with it a lot” originally appeared on Basketball Network.
Kevin Love’s 2010–11 season was a rebounding clinic — 15.2 per game, the highest of his career and the league’s best at the time. It was truly impressive, but not everyone bought the hype.
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Phil Jackson, for one, wasn’t fully sold. The legendary head coach suggested Love’s success was partly influenced by fouling and favorable whistles, not just sheer dominance.
Love’s rebounding under scrutiny
When Jackson’s Los Angeles Lakers visited Love’s Minnesota Timberwolves, all eyes were on the home team’s big man. The reason? Just weeks earlier, Love had joined Karl Malone in the exclusive club of players with 30-plus points and 30-plus rebounds in a single game.
It was a rare, historic feat that shook the league, so it was only natural for one of basketball’s most iconic head coaches to weigh in. His assessment? Far from glowing.
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“He (Love) fouls and gets away with it a lot,” Jackson said bluntly, per ESPN. “He jumps over guys’ backs. But he’s there, he’s pursuing it and he’s got a reputation now and [the referees] are giving him some latitude.”
Though Phil’s comments seemed quite sharp, he softened them by acknowledging Kevin’s grit, saying you still have to respect him “for determination and effort.” Yet, in that Lakers-Timberwolves matchup, Love’s usually fierce intensity was missing in action.
The Purple and Gold dominated, winning 112-95. At the same time, the former UCLA Bruin struggled, going scoreless on 0-for-7 shooting and grabbing just seven rebounds. That total was barely half his season average, marking one of Love’s worst rebounding games of the year.
The art of board battles
Rebounding in basketball — whether in street games or the NBA — comes down to relentless effort and physicality. Under the basket, players clash fiercely, jostling for position amid constant contact. This battle often produces fouls that go unnoticed by referees, hidden in the chaos away from the ball.
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The Zen Master pointed out how this blurred line between legal and illegal play gave K-Love an edge. He pushed boundaries and relied on subtle fouls, hoping for leniency from officials.
But the now-Miami Heat player wasn’t alone. Jackson, reflecting on coaching Dennis Rodman with the Chicago Bulls—one of the greatest rebounders ever—said the former 6’6″ forward used similar tactics.
“Dennis [Rodman] was great at that [too],” Phil said. “He used to have a spin move that was a really good move, but he fouled. They all do.”
So, if everyone played this way, why didn’t Jackson use these tactics himself?
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At 6’8″ and 220 pounds, the Montana native was no stranger to board battles during his time with both New York franchises, the Knicks and the Nets. While Phil likely tried, he ultimately gave up, admitting, “I couldn’t get away with that.”
Despite the criticism, K-Love stayed locked in, posting standout rebounding numbers all season. He increased his boards by 39 percent from the year before — a leap that earned him the 2011 NBA Most Improved Player Award.
Furthermore, that season, Love became the first player since Malone in 1982–83 to average at least 20 points and 15 rebounds per game — a clear sign of his growth and dominance on the glass, even if he might have pushed the boundaries with a foul or two.
This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Jul 4, 2025, where it first appeared.
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