Former Bulls star Bob Love dead at 81

Bob Love, a three-time NBA All-Star with the Chicago Bulls, died connected Monday aft a agelong conflict with cancer, the squad said. He was 81.

Love played 11 seasons successful the NBA, including astir 9 years with the Bulls. He besides played for the Cincinnati Royals, Milwaukee Bucks, New York Nets and Seattle SuperSonics. The Royals selected him successful the 4th circular of the 1965 draught retired of Southern University.

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Chicago Bulls guardant Bob Love, #10, successful enactment against the Atlanta Hawks astatine The Omni. (Mandatory Credit: Manny Rubio-USA TODAY Sports)

"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. "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."

Love grew up successful Louisiana arsenic 1 of 14 children and was nicknamed "Butterbean" for his emotion of lima beans.

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Former Chicago Bulls subordinate and manager of assemblage affairs for the team, Bob Love, shows media members that helium hasn't mislaid his interaction with the shot aft announcing his candidacy for Alderman successful the city's 15th ward connected Sept. 25, 2002 successful Chicago. (AP Photo/M. Spencer Green, File)

The tallness of his nonrecreational vocation came successful the aboriginal 1970s, erstwhile helium was an All-Star for 3 consecutive seasons from 1970-1973. The Bulls made the playoffs each of those 3 seasons but ne'er got further than the Western Conference Semifinals.

He averaged 17.6 points and 5.9 rebounds per crippled successful 789 vocation games.

The Bulls retired Love’s jersey successful January 1994. He was the 2nd subordinate of the franchise to person his fig retired. He joined Jerry Sloan astatine the time. He was besides a portion of the inaugural Ring of Honor people backmost successful January.

"I americium profoundly saddened by the nonaccomplishment of Bob Love, a existent Chicago Bulls fable and beloved quality being. Bob is 1 of the archetypal Bulls greats," Bulls Chairman Jerry Reinsdorf said. "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. 

Former Chicago Bulls prima Bob Love prepares to sprout a handbasket aft his wedding to Rachel Dixon during halftime of the Bulls' crippled against the San Antonio Spurs connected Dec. 8, 1995 astatine the United Center successful Chicago. (AP Photo/Fred Jewell, File)

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"Toughness was not lone a trademark of Bob’s play connected the court, 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.  We nonstop our deepest condolences to Bob’s wife, Emily, and his full family."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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