Bob Love
From Hoopedia
Robert (Bob) “Butterbean” Love (born December 8, 1942, in Bastrop, Louisiana) is an American former professional basketball player who spent the prime of his career with the NBA's Chicago Bulls. A versatile forward who could shoot with either his left or right hand, Love now works as the Bulls' Director of Community Affairs.
Early years
After starring at Morehouse High School (now defunct) in Bastrop, Louisiana, Love played basketball for Southern University, where he also became a brother of Alpha Phi Omega fraternity. He earned All-America honors in 1963. In 1965, the Cincinnati Royals selected the 6’8” forward in the fourth round of the 1965 NBA Draft. Love failed to make the team, and instead spent the 1965-66 NBA season in the Eastern Basketball League. After averaging over 25 points per game, Love earned the EBL Rookie of the Year Award and gained enough confidence to try out for the Royals once more. He made the team on his second attempt and played two seasons for the Royals, largely in a reserve role. In 1968, the Milwaukee Bucks selected him in the NBA Expansion Draft and traded him to the Chicago Bulls in the middle of the 1968-69 season.
Love and the Bulls
Love flourished while playing for Dick Motta's Bulls. In 1969-1970, he became a full-time starter, averaging 21 points and 8.7 rebounds. The following two seasons he averaged 25.2 and 25.8 points per game, appeared in his first two NBA All-Star Games, and earned All-NBA Second Team honors both seasons. Love also appeared in the 1973 All-Star Game, and he would average at least 19 points and six rebounds every season until 1976-1977. Love was named to the NBA's All-Defense Second Team in 1974 and 1975.
Post-basketball career
Love retired in 1977 with career totals of 13,895 points and 4,653 rebounds. He suffered from a stuttering problem, which prevented him from finding meaningful employment after his playing days were over. Eventually, however, Love found a benefactor to pay for speech therapy classes, and in 1993 he returned to the Chicago Bulls as their director of community relations. In recent years, Love has also become a motivational speaker.
SEASONS WITH BULLS:
JERSEY RETIRED:
Number 10 on 01/14/94 at Chicago Stadium
BULLS CAREER HIGHLIGHTS:
NBA All-Star 1971, 1972, 1973… All-NBA Second Team 1970-71, 1971-72 … NBA All-Defensive Second Team 1971-72, 1973-74, 1974-75 … Led the Bulls in scoring for seven straight seasons … ranks third among Bulls all-time scorers (12,623 points) … currently serves as the Bulls Director of Community Affairs, making over 300 visits annually to schools, social service agencies and charity organizations.
