Southern University

Men's Basketball 11/19/2024 10:01:00 AM Rodney Kirschner Deputy Athletics Director | Director of Strategic Communications | Sports Information Director

Southern University Athletics Mourns the Loss of Former Jaguar Basketball Legend Bob Love

CHICAGO, IL | Former Southern University and Chicago Bulls forward Bob Love, a three-time All-Star who spent 11 years in the NBA, died Monday night. He was 81.

The Bulls said Love died after a long battle with cancer.

Growing up in northern Louisiana (Bastrop), Love was one of 14 children. He was nicknamed "Butterbean" because he liked lima beans.

The 6-foot-8 Love starred at Southern University in Baton Rouge from 1961-1965. He is the all-time leading scorer in Southern University Men's Basketball history with 2,458 points (23.7 average) and finished with 1,483 rebounds (14.7 average) during his 104 games at SU.

During the 1965 season, Southern made it to the Elite Eight NAIA National Tournament before falling to Ouachita Baptist 65-64. Bob Love Scored 138 points in the 3 games he appeared in the 1965 NAIA National Tournament.

Love also earned NAIA All American honors during his illustrious career at Southern. His #41 jersey was retired in 2012 and can be seen in the rafters of the F.G. Clark Activity Center.

"Southern University and the basketball word lost a great one," said director of athletics Roman Banks, who is also Love's godson. "Bob was a class act on and off the court and was the first NBA player to come from Southern all while dealing with a severe speech impediment which he overcame and went on to become an inspiration in the community."

He was selected by Cincinnati in the fourth round of the 1965 NBA draft. He played for the Royals for two seasons before he was picked by Milwaukee in the expansion draft in 1968.

Love and Bob Weiss were traded to Chicago in November 1968 for Flynn Robinson. With the Bulls, Love developed into one of the NBA's best forwards.

Love averaged 21.3 points and 6.8 rebounds during his nine seasons with the 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," the Bulls said in a statement.

"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.

Love was an All-Star for three straight seasons in 1970-73. He averaged a team-high and career-best 25.8 points during the 1971-72 season.

Love retired after the 1976-77 season. He averaged 17.6 points and 5.9 rebounds in 789 career games, also playing for the Nets and Seattle SuperSonics.

In January 1994, Love became the second player in franchise history to have his number retired by the Bulls, joining Jerry Sloan. Love was part of the team's inaugural Ring of Honor class this year in January.

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