Bob Love, the three-time NBA All-Star and one of the Chicago Bulls' first breakout stars, has died at the age of 81 after a long battle with cancer.
Love's legacy with the Bulls is almost as old as the team itself. He joined the Chicago squad in 1968 and played with the team for a total of nine seasons, leading the organization in scoring in seven of them. He was a three-time NBA All-Star with the Bulls as well as a two-time All-NBA player and three-time NBA All-Defensive team pick. His jersey was retired by the team back in 1994, becoming only the second Bulls player to have their number taken out of circulation.
"Bob was a true legend and beloved member of our family," the Bulls said in a social media statement mourning his death. "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. 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."
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Bulls owner Jerry Reinsdorf also took time to pay tribute to the late basketball icon.
"Bob is one of the original Bulls greats," Reinsdorf said, per ESPN. "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."
After leaving the NBA, Love struggled to hold down a job as a result of a severe stuttering problem, working as a dishwasher and busboy before getting some help from a speech therapist in the 1980s. He became a motivational speaker after overcoming his speech impediment, and in 1992, the Bulls hired him as a director of community affairs responsible for giving hundreds of speeches a year to teenagers looking for inspiration.
Love is survived by his wife Rachel Dixon, whom he married on the court at the United Center back in 1995.
from Men's Journal https://ift.tt/98yjp3O
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