Bob ‘Butterbean’ Love, Chicago Bulls Legend, Passes Away at 81

Chicago Bulls great Bob Love (Photo Credits NBA.com, Public Domain). Bob “Butterbean” Love, one of the most celebrated Chicago Bulls players, died on Monday (Nov. 18) at 81 after a long fight with cancer, the team announced. “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,” said the team via a statement.& We mourn the passing of Bob Love, who passed away today in Chicago at the age of 81 after a long battle with cancer. pic.twitter.com/3EBUO9UTmp — Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) November 19, 2024 A Force on the Court Love stood out at 6-foot-8 and 215 pounds for his rare mix of size and agility. He could score with either hand and move like a smaller player. Over nine seasons with the Bulls, he became a three-time All-Star and one of the league’s top defenders. Sportswriter Sam Smith called Love “one of the best two-way players in the NBA,” likening him to John Havlicek. But Love’s path to the league was far from smooth. He worked his way up from the Eastern League, earning $50 a game, before finding his place in the NBA after being...