Jordan Love plans to be at Bucks playoff games; his relationship with Aaron Rodgers, Lambeau Leap and more on Thanasis Antetokounmpo podcast
When the Milwaukee Bucks are in the NBA playoffs you can typically expect to see members of the Green Bay Packers cheering them on at Fiserv Forum.
Aaron Rodgers. David Bakhtiari. Aaron Jones. Za'Darius Smith. They've all been at games in recent years. They're all no longer part of the Packers and likely won't be in Milwaukee in 2024.
Jordan Love will be.
The new face of the Packers franchise, who viewed himself as a basketball player first growing up, expects to be part of the Bucks' run toward an NBA championship this season.
“I’ll be down there for the playoff games,” Love said at the conclusion of his recent appearance on the "Thanalysis Show," a podcast hosted by Bucks forward Thanasis Antetokounmpo.
The later rounds of the NBA playoffs typically line up for when players are back in Green Bay for the early part of offseason activities. Love will also gather a group of players to continue workouts in California, something he started last year, in addition to the organized team activities.
But in between his day job as preparations for the 2024 season begin to slowly ramp up, Love will continue his offseason of hitting up all kinds of sporting events. He was also courtside for a Marquette college basketball game earlier this year.
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Could we see Rodgers, who owns a minority stake in the Bucks, join him in Milwaukee? It's not likely given he's with the New York Jets. And it's probably a better bet to see him at a Knicks playoff game like last year, but it would be quite the sight if the former Packers quarterback and the current one are courtside.
Speaking of Rodgers and Love, that's where we start with our takeaways from Love's appearance on Antetokounmpo's podcast.
Jordan Love on relationship with Aaron Rodgers
If Love is doing an interview, he's likely being asked about his relationship with Rodgers.
This one was no different. And his answer was the same.
"We have a great relationship," Love said.
Love sat behind Rodgers for three seasons after the Packers selected him with the 26th overall pick in the 2020 NFL draft. The Packers felt confident about Love last offseason and traded Rodgers to the New York Jets, ending one era and beginning another.
While Rodgers and the Packers front office had their known disagreements toward the end of the four-time MVP's tenure, there is no animosity between the quarterbacks.
"Obviously, I was in the quarterback room with him," Love said. "When you're in that room together you're there every day for multiple hours a day so you build a relationship with everyone in that room."
Love said he understands that there will always be comparisons between him and Rodgers but he doesn't "focus on that stuff."
Rodgers often texted his successor words of encouragement throughout the season, including before Love's playoff debut against the Dallas Cowboys.
"Me and Aaron definitely got a good relationship," Love reiterated.
Jordan Love explains to Thanasis about how life on road in NFL is different than NBA
Antetokounmpo, who has been with the Bucks for five seasons, knows what the NBA lifestyle is. Half of the 82 games are on the road, with many lengthy trips in cities where players can enjoy nights out.
How is that different than the NFL?
One big difference, Love explained to Antetokounmpo, who was sporting his No. 10 Packers home jersey.
NFL players have an 11 p.m. curfew the night before games. That shook Antetokounmpo, who grew up in Greece.
Antetokounmpo, the older brother of Giannis, stopped Love, almost not believing him.
"Oh yeah, we have curfew," Love said again.
But Antetokounmpo told him: "We're grown men," saying that players should be responsible for their own behavior.
"We're on a team trip," Love replied. "Basketball, NFL it's different, man."
Love added there are consequences for not being in your hotel room on time: "You miss curfew you're going to see a fine. You're gonna see that fine."
Jordan Love has never done the Lambeau Leap, educates Thanasis on Packers tradition
Love accomplished a lot in his first year as a starter for the Packers in leading Green Bay to the playoffs. But one thing he didn't do was a Lambeau Leap, the famous celebration for players after scoring a touchdown that LeRoy Butler started in 1993.
"The fans they grab you, they’re going crazy," Love explained to Antetokounmpo, who wasn't familiar with the celebration. "People taking pictures. It’s a cool moment, it’s a very special moment."
But Love told Antetokounmpo: "I haven’t done it so I wouldn’t know."
Something tells us that will soon change.
"I'll get up there," Love confidently said.
Could Antetokounmpo get up there?
Love, without giving names, told him that he's seen guys miss in their attempts.
But it's a safe bet that Antetokounmpo, who is 6-foot-7, would get up over the wall.
"The wall is pretty tall," Love told him, but added "you jump for a living so I’m sure you’d get up there."
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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Jordan Love on relationship with Aaron Rodgers, Lambeau Leap: Podcast