Caleb Love Is Making Noise in Portland - And It’s No Fluke
When the Portland Trail Blazers used a first-round pick in the 2025 NBA Draft to select 7’1” Chinese center Yang Hansen, the move was met with global buzz. Hansen arrived with the kind of international hype that turns heads-size, potential, and the hope of becoming a franchise cornerstone. But halfway through the season, the spotlight in Portland has shifted to a far less expected source.
Enter Caleb Love.
Undrafted. Unheralded. And now, undeniably, unavoidable.
While Hansen has logged limited minutes-just 8.4 per game across 25 appearances-Love has forced his way into the conversation with a stretch of play that’s turned heads across the league. He wasn’t invited to the 2025 draft combine.
He wasn’t on anyone’s radar entering the season. But now?
He’s on the national radar, landing on a list of 15 rookies to watch at the midseason mark.
Let’s be clear: this wasn’t supposed to happen.
Love came into the league with a reputation for streaky shooting. Across five college seasons at North Carolina and Arizona, he shot just 38 percent from the field.
His summer league numbers didn’t inspire much more confidence-35 percent shooting over five games. And his first 21 NBA games followed suit: 33 percent from the floor, with the shot selection of a microwave scorer but the efficiency of a broken thermostat.
But then December hit. Portland’s backcourt was ravaged by injuries, and with opportunity knocking, Love kicked the door down.
From late December through mid-January, Love went on an absolute tear. Over a 14-game stretch, he averaged 16.8 points per game, coming off the bench and lighting it up from deep-45.5 percent from the field, 40.7 percent from three on a healthy 8.4 attempts per game. That’s not just a hot hand-that’s sustained production in a real NBA role.
And it wasn’t just the numbers. It was the confidence.
The shot-making. The ability to rise in big moments for a team that desperately needed someone to step up.
Love didn’t just fill minutes-he filled a void.
So what do the Blazers really have in Caleb Love?
Even if he settles somewhere between his early inefficiency and this recent heater, he’s already proven he can be a valuable rotation piece. The comparison to Eric Gordon isn’t just flattering-it’s fitting.
Both are undersized guards with strong builds, long wingspans, and a knack for scoring in bunches. Gordon, of course, had more bounce in his prime.
But Love shows a smoother shooting rhythm, especially off movement and off the dribble.
Gordon carved out a 19-year NBA career by being a dependable high-volume shooter who could defend his position and create when needed. That’s the blueprint-and Love is already tracing the lines.
Meanwhile, Yang Hansen’s development remains a long-term project. His physical tools are undeniable, and Portland’s investment in him suggests they’re playing the long game.
But right now, it’s Love who’s making the noise. Love who’s earning minutes.
Love who’s giving Blazers fans something to believe in.
And let’s not forget Sidy Cissoko, another intriguing young piece in Portland’s rebuild. The Blazers are clearly in evaluation mode, trying to identify which young players can be part of their next competitive core. Love, with his recent surge, is making a strong case.
The question now isn’t whether Caleb Love belongs in the league. He does. The question is how high his ceiling really is-and how much more he can give a team that’s hungry for answers.
One thing’s for sure: the Blazers didn’t expect this. But they’ll take it.