Chicago Bulls' first breakout star and three-time NBA All-Star Bob Love recently passed away at 81. He fought a long battle with cancer before passing away on November 18. Love played for the Bulls in the peak years of his professional career, although, he had a trouble-filled personal life.
Love was earlier married to Betty Smith. However, according to the New York Times, that marriage ended in divorce in 1983. The NBA star had five sons and two daughters from that marriage.
Bob Love also has four sons from another relationship and a stepchild. He married Emily Collier in 2004 and was with her until the end of his life. Besides his children and Collier, Bob is also survived by his three brothers, two sisters, 18 grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren.
Bob also struggled with his speech since childhood. He had a severe stuttering disability which made his childhood difficult. In 2002, he told the outlet,
"All my life I dreamed and prayed to be able to communicate normally with people. I would have given up everything else in my life to do it."
However, Bob made many efforts to overcome stuttering. He took speech therapy sessions and also became active with the Stuttering Foundation. However, his stuttering never stopped him from climbing the ladder of success and expressing his feelings on camera.
Chicago Bulls pay homage to Bob Love
The official Instagram handle of Chicago Bulls shared a heartwarming note on Bob Love's death. Love joined the team in 1968 and played for nine seasons. It can be said that he was almost as old as the team. In 1994, the team also retired his number 10 jersey. It was only the second time that a Bulls player's number was taken out of circulation. The statement read,
"Bob was a true legend and a beloved member of our family. During his nine remarkable seasons with the Bulls, Bob was a three-time NBA All-Star, a tenacious defender, and a cornerstone of our team."
"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."
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The statement concluded with the team thanking Love for his contributions and legacy. They also sent their deepest condolences to Bob Love's wife, family, and friends.
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