The Bulls said Love died after a long battle with cancer.
Chicago Bulls legend Bob Love has passed away at the age of 81 after a long battle with cancer. Love spent nine remarkable seasons with the Bulls from 1968 to 1976. He averaged 21.3 points and 6.8 rebounds per game during his stint with the team.
Love was a cornerstone of the Bulls franchise, earning three All-Star selections and three All-Defensive Team honors. His No. 10 jersey hangs in the rafters of the United Center.
“With his No. 10 jersey hanging in the United Center rafters, his on-court achievements are forever etched in history, but Bob’s impact transcended basketball,” the Bulls said in a statement.
“He became an inspirational figure and a passionate community ambassador for the Bulls, dedicating himself to charitable causes and uplifting countless lives with his motivational speeches. We are profoundly grateful for his enduring contributions and legacy both on and off the court in Chicago.”
Born on December 8, 1942, Love grew up in Louisiana. Despite suffering from a severe stuttering disability, Love was highly skilled in basketball and football at Morehouse High School, leading his team to state titles in both sports.
Love attended Southern University in Baton Rouge on a football scholarship but ultimately focused on basketball. He averaged 12.8 points as a freshman, 22.6 as a sophomore, 25.6 as a junior, and 30.6 as a senior, leading the Southwestern Athletic Conference in scoring his senior year. He was a three-time NAIA All-American, and his number 41 was retired by Southern University.
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Selected by the Cincinnati Royals in the 1965 NBA Draft, Love played for the Bulls for nine seasons, leading the team in scoring seven of those seasons. He played 11 seasons for 5 teams, averaging 17.6 points and 5.9 rebounds in 789 regular-season games.
Love retired from professional basketball in 1977 after stints with the New York Nets and Seattle SuperSonics.
Image Credit: Christopher Creveling-USA TODAY Sports
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