Former Chicago Bulls forward and three-time NBA All-Star Bob Love has passed away at the age of 81, the team has announced. Love, who played 11 seasons in the league and had his No.10 jersey being retired in Chicago, died following a long battle with cancer. β€œHe 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,” said the Chicago Bulls. Love impressed at Southern University in Baton Rouge before being drafted by the Cincinnati Royals in the 1965 NBA draft. The Louisiana native was later drafted to the Milwaukee Bucks in the 1968 expansion draft before being traded to the Bulls later that year. Love, who averaged 21.3 points and 6.8 rebounds during his nine seasons in Chicago, received three straight All-Star nods from 1970-73. The 2024 Bulls Ring of Honor inductee’s best season came during the 1971-72 campaign, where he averaged a career-best and team-high 25.2 points per game. Love, who averaged 17.6 points and 5.9 rebounds in 789 career games, also featured for the Seattle Supersonics and New York Nets before retiring in 1977.

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