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Bob Love was the Chicago Bulls' first great offensive player — a jump-shooting artist who averaged 21 points a game and made three All-Star teams. But the story of why the Bulls retired his #10 has as much to do with what happened after basketball as during it.
Chicago Bulls
Chicago Bulls
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Cincinnati Royals
1966-1968
Chicago Bulls
1968-1977
3x All-Star & franchise scoring leader
Averaged 21.3 points across nine Bulls seasons; his 12,623 Chicago points rank third in team history behind Jordan and Pippen.
Career-high 25.8 ppg (1971-72)
Peaked as a scorer in 1971-72, one of two years he made the All-NBA Second Team.
No. 10 retired by Chicago
The second jersey number the Bulls ever retired, honoring the face of their early-1970s contenders.
Overcame a severe stutter
After basketball, a stutter limited him to busboy work until speech therapy; he rejoined the Bulls as director of community relations and a motivational speaker.
1972-73
| Season | GP | PPG | RPG | APG | FG% | 3P% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1972-73 | 82 | 23.1 | 7.1 | 2.2 | 44.6% | 0.0% |
| 1971-72 | 79 | 25.8 | 6.8 | 2.1 | 45.9% | 0.0% |
| 1970-71 | 81 | 21 | 7.9 | 2.3 | 42.9% | 0.0% |
Bob Love was the quiet engine of the early-1970s Chicago Bulls, a rangy scorer whose mid-range game and relentless motor made him the franchise's leading scorer for years. A three-time All-Star, he poured in a career-high 25.8 points a night in 1971-72 and twice earned All-NBA Second Team honors; his 12,623 Bulls points still trail only Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen in team history. Off the court his story was even more remarkable: a severe stutter left him working as a busboy and dishwasher after basketball until speech therapy helped him rebuild his voice, and he returned to the Bulls as a beloved community-relations figure and speaker. Chicago retired his No. 10, the second number lifted to its rafters. He died in November 2024 at 81.
Personal Life & Family
Parents & Siblings
Off the Court
Mentors youth basketball programs in Chicago and Seattle
Did You Know?
After his NBA career ended, Love suffered from a severe stutter and financial hardship, eventually working as a busboy at a Nordstrom restaurant in Seattle.
A Nordstrom executive recognized him and the company offered to pay for years of speech therapy — Love repaid the debt by becoming a Nordstrom brand ambassador.
His story was featured in books about resilience including the bestselling "Same Kind of Different As Me."
Averaged 25.8 PPG in the 1971-72 season — one of the highest single-season averages in franchise history.
Bulls retired his #10 jersey in 1994 in a ceremony where he gave a full speech without a stutter — a moment that brought the entire United Center to tears.
Career Honors
3x NBA All-Star (1971, 1972, 1973)
Chicago Bulls All-Time Top Scorer at time of retirement (since surpassed)
#10 retired by Chicago Bulls (1994)
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