Ex-Bulls star Love dies at 81 after cancer battle

Former Chicago Bulls star forward Bob Love died Monday following a long battle with cancer. He was 81.

Love was a three-time All-Star who spent nine of his 11 NBA seasons with the Bulls. He joined Hall of Famer Jerry Sloan in becoming the second member of the Bulls to have his jersey retired by the organization back in 1994.

“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.”

Love averaged 21.3 points and 6.8 rebounds in 592 games (444 starts) during his time with the Bulls from 1968-76. He also played briefly with the Cincinnati Royals, Seattle SuperSonics, Milwaukee Bucks and then-New York Nets.

“Bob is one of the original Bulls greats,” owner Jerry Reinsdorf wrote in a statement. “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. Toughness was not only a trademark of Bob’s play on the court but also apparent in his resiliency throughout his basketball career. His impact on the Bulls and the countless lives he touched through his work in the community will keep him in our memories forever.”

Love was selected by Cincinnati in the fourth round of the 1965 NBA Draft out of Southern University in Baton Rouge, La. The 6-foot-8 star played two seasons with the Royals before being taken in the 1968 NBA expansion draft by Milwaukee, however he was traded along with Bob Weiss to Chicago in November 1968 for Flynn Robinson.

Love was selected to three straight All-Star games from 1971-73. He made the All-NBA second team twice and the All-Defensive second team three times.