Chicago Bulls legend Bob Love dies at 81 after long battle with cancer

Former Chicago Bulls guardant Bob Love passed distant astatine the property of 81 connected Monday. 

Love, a three-time All-Star who spent 11 years successful the NBA, died aft a agelong conflict with cancer, the Bulls confirmed. 

Love averaged 21.3 points and 6.8 rebounds during his 9 seasons with the squad and his bequest is everlastingly enshrined wrong the franchise's lore arsenic his jersey hangs successful the rafters alongside chap Bulls greats, Michael Jordan and Jerry Sloan.  

'With his No. 10 jersey hanging successful the United Center rafters, his on-court achievements are everlastingly etched successful history, but Bob´s interaction transcended basketball,' the Bulls said successful a connection . 

'He became an inspirational fig and a passionate assemblage 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 bequest some connected and disconnected the tribunal successful Chicago.'

'Bob is 1 of the archetypal Bulls greats,' proprietor Jerry Reinsdorf wrote successful a statement. 'During his 9 seasons with the Bulls, Bob became a cornerstone of the franchise, and his tenacious defence acceptable precocious standards for contention and toughness. 

'Toughness was not lone a trademark of Bob's play connected the tribunal but besides evident successful his resiliency passim his hoops career. His interaction connected the Bulls and the countless lives helium touched done his enactment successful the assemblage volition support him successful our memories forever.' 

Growing up successful bluish Louisiana, Love was 1 of 14 children. He was nicknamed 'Butterbean' due to the fact that helium liked lima beans.

The 6-foot-8 Love starred astatine Southern University successful Baton Rouge earlier helium was selected by Cincinnati successful the 4th circular of the 1965 NBA draft. He played for the Royals for 2 seasons earlier helium was taken by Milwaukee successful the enlargement draught successful 1968.

Love and Bob Weiss were traded to Chicago successful November 1968 for Flynn Robinson. With the Bulls, Love developed into 1 of the NBA's champion forwards.

Love was an All-Star for 3 consecutive seasons from 1970-73. He averaged a team-high and career-best 25.8 points during the 1971-72 season.

Love retired aft the 1976-77 season. He averaged 17.6 points and 5.9 rebounds successful 789 vocation games, besides playing for the Nets and Seattle SuperSonics.

In January 1994, Love became the 2nd subordinate successful franchise past to person his fig retired by the Bulls, joining Sloan. Love was portion of the team's inaugural Ring of Honor people this twelvemonth successful January.