Love was a cornerstone of the franchise’s success in the early 1970s. He struggled with a stutter that he overcame only after his playing days were over.

Former Chicago Bulls forward Bob Love, who was a three-time All-Star with the team, has died on Monday after a battle with cancer, the organization said.

Bob Love, an NBA basketball legend who played nine seasons with the Chicago Bulls, died Monday. Love died after a long battle with cancer, the Bulls said. He was 81. His trademark smile lit up a room.