Bob Love, an American professional basketball player for the NBA’s Chicago Bulls, passed away on Monday, November 18, 2024, having earned a significant net worth through his exceptional career.
Bob Love passed away in Chicago at the age of 81 following a long battle with cancer. Chicago Bulls announced the demise of their former player through their social media post.
Chicago Bulls, on their official Twitter account, stated:
“Bob was a true legend and a beloved member of our family,during his nine remarkable seasons with the bulls, Bob was a three-time NBA All-Star, a tenacious defender and a cornerstone of our team.”
Similarly, the Chicago Bulls and many of Bob Love’s fans shared their condolences to his family and loved ones.
Highlights
- Bob Love passed away at the age of 81 on November 18, 2024, after battling with cancer for years.
- He began his professional basketball journey with the Cincinnati Royals of the NBA in 1965.
- After retirement, Bob Love began his executive career as a health and sanitation manager at Nordstrom.
Bob Love, who began his basketball journey very young, amassed a significant net worth in millions through his exceptional basketball career.
Furthermore, with a passion and Love for sports, Bob started playing basketball and football as the quarterback at Morehouse High School in Bastrop, Louisiana, leading his team to state titles in both sports.
Although he earned a football scholarship to Southern University in Baton Rouge, he chose to play basketball.
During his tenure at Southern University, he earned several honorable titles, including three-time NAIA All-American and three-time Southwestern Conference Selection.
Likewise, the NBA star began his professional career with Cincinnati Royal in the 1965 NBA Draft. However, he failed to make the team and spent the 1965-66 NBA season in the EBL.
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.
He soon became the cornerstone of the Chicago Bulls. During his tenure of over eight years, he helped them win several matches and honorable titles before joining the New York Nets and Seattle Supersonics.
Talking about his earnings throughout his NBA career, Bob Love might have earned around $1 million—$2 million over 11 seasons with the NBA, adding to his total net worth.
Bob Love Also Accumulated Substantial Earnings From His Executive Career
In addition to the earnings from his NBA career, Bob Love also accumulated significant income from his executive career, adding to his net worth of millions.
Moreover, following his retirement in 1977, Love faced financial difficulties and even worked as a dishwasher at Nordstrom in the 1980s, earning $4.45 an hour.
We mourn the passing of Bob Love, who passed away today in Chicago at the age of 81 after a long battle with cancer. pic.twitter.com/3EBUO9UTmp
— Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) November 19, 2024
However, Nordstrom’s director, John Nordstrom, was so impressed with the former NBA player’s work ethic that he offered to pay for speech therapy classes to cure his stutter.
After completing speech therapy, Bob Love became Nordstrom’s corporate spokesperson, an executive with Nordstrom, and a health/sanitation manager for its 70 national restaurant chain.
Similarly, Bob Love returned to the Chicago Bulls as their director of community relations and became a well-regarded speaker, especially among schools and community groups.
Talking about his earnings from his executive career, combining his roles at Nordstrom and Chicago Bull with his motivational speaking engagements, Bob Love likely earned an estimated $3 million to $4 million after his basketball career.
Furthermore, combining all his earnings from his diverse career, Bob Love had an estimated net worth of $4 million at the time of his passing.
Additional Information
- Bob Love was born on December 8, 1942, in Bastrop, Louisiana, United States. He was the son of a sharecropper and grew up in the cotton fields of Louisiana.
- He was raised by an abusive stepfather until the age of 8 and didn’t meet his biological father until he was 33.
- Love graduated with a bachelor od science degree in food and nutrition from Southern University.
