ESPN Magazine's 'The Body' Issue 2015: Kevin Love Talks 'Full Monty,' Athletes Reveal All

Kevin Love graces the cover of the 2015 ESPN the Magazine's ‘The Body’ issue.

ByABC News
July 6, 2015, 7:56 AM
The Cleveland Cavaliers' Kevin Love is one of six cover models in the 2015 special "The Body" issue of ESPN magazine.
The Cleveland Cavaliers' Kevin Love is one of six cover models in the 2015 special "The Body" issue of ESPN magazine.
Richard Phibbs

— -- ESPN The Magazine's 'Body Issue' issue has celebrated the finest naked physiques of athletes from around the world, including tennis star Venus Williams, soccer goalie Hope Solo and baseball player Prince Fielder.

For this year’s issue, soccer player Ali Krieger, pro tennis player Stan Wawrinka and Olympic gymnast Aly Raisman stripped down to nothing -- with key parts artfully obscured.

The Cleveland Cavaliers' Kevin Love is one of six cover models who will appear on the issue.

ABC News’ Mara Schiavocampo talked with Love -- who has just signed a new deal with the Cavaliers that will reportedly pay him $110 million over five years -- about just how naked he was for the shoot.

“I have to ask you -- are you really, fully nude or are there pasties in strategic [spots], and underwear, or is it like the full monty?” she said.

Love, 26, laughed and he replied that it was “a little bit of both.”

“In a way when you first take off that robe you are like, ‘Here I am! I'm out there,’” he said. “So it was an experience. ... It took probably 45 minutes to an hour to really get comfortable but once we started going I was pretty good and really getting into it.”

Love, who stands 6-feet-10-inches tall, is in great shape, but he said that when he was asked to appear in the issue, he had to do some preparation. He got a little extra sun and stuck to his strict diet and fitness routine.

“I always say that it is easier to stay in shape than to get back into shape, so I always make sure that I am always having the proper nutrition, always working out, and always working with the right people so this was no substitute,” he said.

The hoops star said he wasn’t always so fit, especially in his high school days.

He explained how he got from there to today’s toned body.

“I'm probably down between 30 and 40 pounds since then,” he said, referring to the weight loss as lifestyle change as well as learning what he wanted the most and the discipline to achieve it.

“What I wanted most was a body that was going to afford me the opportunity to play at a very high level,” said Love, a three-time All-Star player.

As for his reaction to being asked to be part of the special issue?

“It was really a special moment for me and this is my favorite issue that ESPN does and it is arguably the most prestigious. ... I was pretty blown away,” he said.

The issue is available online today and on newsstands on Friday.