Tonight, the NBA world mourns the loss of Bob Love. According to the Chicago Bulls PR Team, he passed away at the age of 81 after a long battle with cancer. Love spent 11 seasons in the NBA, nine of them with the Bulls. His number 10 is hanging in the rafters of the United Center after he averaged over 21 points and nearly six rebounds per outing while wearing the red and black. During his time in Chicago, he was a three-time NBA All-Star selection, a two-time All-NBA team member, and was awarded three All-NBA Defensive Team nods. He’s one of only four numbers, excluding the NBA-wide retired Bill Russell’s number six, who never wore a Bulls jersey, to be retired by the Chicago Bulls.
Love’s story off the court was just as inspirational as his performance between the lines. Despite a stuttering issue, he overcame his perceived handicap to help others by giving motivational speeches rooted in defying the odds. After his retirement and some time away from the NBA, the Bulls hired Love as their Director of Community Affairs, and he spoke to thousands of Chicagoland teenagers about his life experiences. Constantly battling discrimination, Love used his underdog story to inspire and educate others. His jersey retirement represented his resilience in life and basketball and unmatched importance to the Chicago Bulls franchise.
In light of Love’s tragic passing, many of the media members within the Bulls organization have shared their thoughts and feelings about the beacon of joy that was Bob Love. K.C. Johnson shared his encounter with Love last January at the Bulls’ inaugural Ring of Honor ceremony. Love was inducted into the initial class of players, coaches, and organizational members to be honored.
Johnson tweeted, “Had good fortune to first meet Bob Love in 1990. At end of long interview about him overcoming severe stutter to become motivational speaker and community service stalwart, I shared how, as a kid, I used to watch him play at Chicago Stadium. He smiled: “I was nice, wasn’t I?” And then he laughed that laugh. What a laugh and spirit he had. Talked to him many times over years and last saw him at Bulls inaugural Ring of Honor ceremony last year. Love: “This is the most wonderful day of my life.”
K.C. Johnson per X
Love’s bright spirit seems to have positively impacted everyone he reached, and that sentiment lives through the words of many Chicagoland reactions to his passing. His passion for the franchise was evident, and being inducted into their Ring of Honor was a deserving immortal place for the former Chicago forward.
