10 Photos to Remember Bulls Star Bob Love Who Died at 81

TheBigLead.com is learning that Bob Love, a three-time NBA All-Star, passed away on Monday at the age of 81 after a long battle with cancer. He played 11 seasons in the NBA, primarily with the Chicago Bulls.

In this slideshow, we look back at Love’s career.

Bulls Chairman Jerry Reinsdorf said, “I am deeply saddened by the loss of Bob Love, a true Chicago Bulls legend and beloved human being. Bob is one of the original Bulls greats.”

Reinsdorf added, “During his nine seasons with the Bulls, Bob became a cornerstone of the franchise, and his tenacious defense set high standards for competition and toughness.”

Love was selected by the Cincinnati Royals in the fourth round of the 1965 NBA Draft after playing college basketball at Southern University. He played for several teams during his career, including the Cincinnati Royals, Milwaukee Bucks, New York Nets, and Seattle SuperSonics, but is best remembered for his time with the Bulls.

The Bulls retired Love’s No. 10 jersey in January 1994, making him the second player in franchise history to receive this honor, following Jerry Sloan.

Throughout his career, Love averaged 17.6 points and 5.9 rebounds per game across 789 games. He earned All-Star selections for three consecutive seasons from 1970 to 1973.

The Bulls stated, “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. 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.”

The Bulls added, “We are profoundly grateful for his enduring contributions and legacy both on and off the court in Chicago.”

After retiring from basketball, Love worked as a community affairs director for the Bulls, focusing on outreach and charitable initiatives in Chicago.