Bob Love, the former Chicago Bulls forward and three-time NBA All-Star, has passed away at the age of 81 after a lengthy battle with cancer. The Bulls confirmed his death, remembering him not only for his impressive on-court accomplishments but also for his significant impact off the court.
Love, who averaged 21.3 points and 6.8 rebounds over nine seasons with the Bulls, had his No. 10 jersey retired and forever enshrined 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,” the Bulls said in a statement. “But Bob’s impact transcended basketball. He became an inspirational figure, dedicating himself to charitable causes and uplifting countless lives through his motivational speeches.”
Born in northern Louisiana as one of 14 children, Love earned the nickname “Butterbean” due to his love for lima beans. Standing 6’8″, Love played college basketball at Southern University in Baton Rouge before being selected by the Cincinnati Royals in the fourth round of the 1965 NBA Draft. After two seasons with the Royals, he was picked up by the Milwaukee Bucks in the 1968 expansion draft.
In November 1968, Love was traded to the Chicago Bulls, where he truly made his mark. He developed into one of the league’s top forwards, earning All-Star honors for three consecutive seasons from 1970 to 1973. During the 1971-72 season, Love had his career-high scoring average of 25.8 points per game, leading the team.
After retiring in 1977, Love had accumulated 17.6 points and 5.9 rebounds per game across 789 career NBA appearances. He also briefly played for the New Jersey Nets and Seattle SuperSonics before hanging up his sneakers.
In recognition of his lasting impact, Love’s number 10 was retired by the Bulls in January 1994, making him only the second player in franchise history to receive the honor. Earlier this year, he was also inducted into the Chicago Bulls Ring of Honor, a testament to his legacy both as a player and as a community figure.
Bob Love’s contributions to the Bulls and the city of Chicago will be remembered for years to come.
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