Bob Love

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Lore & Background

Love's life before the NBA was marked by profound adversity and resilience. Born in Bastrop, Louisiana, into poverty as one of 14 children to a mother who gave birth at 15, he endured an abusive stepfather before running away at age eight to live with his grandmother, who defended him with an axe handle against retrieval attempts. His childhood was shadowed by a debilitating stutter that made speaking agonizingly difficult; Chicago Tribune columnist Bob Greene recalled watching Love struggle for two minutes just to utter a single word, his face contorted in anguish. Despite this, Love found his voice on the football field at Morehouse High School, singing play calls to teammates because he did not stutter when singing. He led Morehouse to state titles in both basketball and football, eventually earning a football scholarship to Southern University before switching to basketball after being spotted by coach Dick Mack. This journey from a stuttering child working as a dishwasher post-retirement to an executive director and motivational speaker illustrates a life of extraordinary triumph over personal limitations.

In Their Own Story

The 1964–65 season at Southern University showcased Love's dominance before he ever played an NBA minute. As a senior, he averaged 30.6 points and 18.2 rebounds per game, leading the SWAC in scoring while earning unanimous first-team NAIA All-American honors. In the 1965 NAIA tournament, Love delivered a heroic performance against Indiana Tech with 34 points and 25 rebounds, followed by 27 points against Eastern Montana. The season ended in heartbreak when Ouachita Baptist defeated Southern 65–64; Love had given his team a 64–61 lead with 28 seconds left before the opponent scored a field goal and two free throws with three seconds remaining. Despite the loss, Love finished the tournament with 86 points and 53 rebounds across three games, earning All-Tournament Team honors. Later, in the NBA playoffs with the Bulls, his intensity remained unmatched; over 47 playoff games, he averaged nearly 23 points while playing almost 44 minutes per contest, proving that his endurance and scoring ability were elite even under the brightest lights.

Reader's Guide

Love's professional tenure with the Chicago Bulls (1968–1976) established a standard of consistency and two-way play. After being released by the Cincinnati Royals and spending the 1965–66 season in the EPBL with Trenton Colonials, he joined the Bulls as a reserve before becoming a starter at age 27 during the 1969–70 season. From 1969 to 1976, the ambidextrous forward led the team in scoring for six consecutive seasons, averaging over 21 points per game while also securing three NBA All-Star selections and two second-team All-NBA honors. His defensive prowess was equally notable, earning him a spot on the second-team NBA All-Defensive Team three times. Love's durability was unmatched; he led the Bulls in minutes played multiple seasons and remains in the franchise's top five for career scoring average and minutes per game. His playoff contributions were immense, averaging nearly 23 points in 47 postseason games, ensuring the Bulls remained competitive throughout his eight-year tenure.

Did You Know?

• Love was nicknamed "Butterbean" because he was fond of the legume as a child, and the name followed him for his entire life.
• He did not become an NBA starter until age 27, yet immediately became one of the league's most consistent scorers with the Bulls.
• Love found a unique workaround for his severe stutter as a high school quarterback: he would sing play calls to his teammates because he could speak fluently when singing.
• In 1965, Love led Southern University to the NAIA tournament where he scored 86 points and grabbed 53 rebounds in just three games before a heartbreaking loss.
• After retiring from basketball, Love worked as a dishwasher and busboy before eventually becoming an executive for the Bulls and managing health operations for a massive restaurant chain.

Overcoming Adversity: The Battle with Stuttering

Robert Earl Love's ability to communicate was forged through a lifelong battle with a severe stutter that began in childhood. Born in Bastrop, Louisiana, he rarely spoke as a child for fear of ridicule at school. His stepfather's abuse drove him to live with his grandmother at age eight, where she famously brandished an axe handle to keep the man away. Even as an adult, the condition was debilitating; Bob Greene described Love's struggle to speak, noting that it could take minutes to form a single word while his face contorted in frustration. However, Love found unique ways to overcome this barrier: he sang play calls as a high school quarterback because singing did not trigger the stutter. After retiring from the NBA, where he worked menial jobs like dishwashing and busboy work, Love transformed his struggle into strength. He eventually became an executive with the Bulls and Nordstrom, managing health and sanitation for a 70-restaurant chain, and served as a motivational speaker to thousands of children, sharing his story of resilience.

Dominant NBA Tenure with the Chicago Bulls

Love did not become an NBA starter until he was 27 years old in the 1969–70 season, but his impact on the Chicago Bulls from 1969 to 1976 was immediate and lasting. The ambidextrous forward averaged over 21 points per game for six consecutive seasons, leading the team in scoring each of those years. His offensive output was matched by defensive intensity, earning him three NBA All-Star selections, two second-team All-NBA honors, and three second-team NBA All-Defensive Team nods. Love's rebounding was consistent, averaging between 6 and 8.7 rebounds per game during this prime period. He led the Bulls in minutes played multiple seasons, a testament to his durability and importance to the team's rotation. His playoff performance was particularly impressive; in 47 games, he averaged nearly 23 points while playing almost 44 minutes per contest. In 2023, these contributions were recognized when Love was named to the Chicago Bulls Ring of Honor inaugural class and became the second player in franchise history to have his number retired.

Collegiate Excellence at Southern University

Love's collegiate career at Southern University was defined by statistical dominance and historic achievements. Initially recruited as a quarterback on a football scholarship, he never played a game of football after basketball coach Dick Mack discovered him playing pickup games in the gym. By his fourth game as a freshman, Love had become a starter, averaging 12.8 points per game. His production exploded in subsequent years: as a sophomore (1962–63), he averaged 22.6 points and 12.3 rebounds; as a junior (1963–64), he posted 25.6 points and 18 rebounds, earning third-team NAIA All-American honors; and as a senior (1964–65), he averaged 30.6 points and 18.2 rebounds per game. This senior campaign saw him named SWAC MVP, unanimous first-team NAIA All-American, and the first black player selected by area sportswriters to the All-Southern team. He led Southern to a 25–5 record and an appearance in the 1965 NAIA tournament, where he scored 86 points and grabbed 53 rebounds in three games before being eliminated in a heartbreaking 65–64 loss to Ouachita Baptist.

Enduring Legacy and Life Beyond the Court

Known affectionately as "Butterbean" due to his childhood fondness for the legume, Love's nickname stayed with him throughout his life. His post-playing career was as impressive as his on-court achievements. After retiring from the NBA, he worked as a dishwasher and busboy before rising to become an executive with the Chicago Bulls as a community affairs director and goodwill ambassador. He also managed health and sanitation for a 70-restaurant chain under Nordstrom. Love dedicated himself to helping others, becoming a motivational speaker who addressed thousands of children about overcoming adversity. His legacy was formally honored in 2023 when he was inducted into the Chicago Bulls Ring of Honor as part of its inaugural class. Additionally, Southern University retired his number in 2012, and he remains the second Bulls player to have his jersey number retired by the franchise, securing his place in basketball history not just for his scoring, but for his indomitable spirit.