It was not exactly a lovefest when Bob Love arrived in Chicago on Nov. 23, 1968. The Milwaukee Bucks dealt Love and Bob Weiss to the Bulls before a game against the Atlanta Hawks at Chicago Stadium, and both he and Weiss were relegated to the bench that night.

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 star forward Bob Love died Monday following a long battle with cancer. He was 81. Love was a three-time All-Star who spent nine of his 11 NBA seasons with the Bulls. He joined Hall of Famer Jerry Sloan in becoming the second member of the Bulls to have his jersey retired by the organization in 1994.