Former Chicago Bulls forward Bob Love, a three-time All-Star who spent 11 years in the NBA, has died. He was 81. The Bulls say Love died after a long battle with cancer.

CHICAGO (CBS) -- 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.

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.

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.

Jerry and Michael Reinsdorf also both released statements on Love's passing:

Legendary Chicago Bulls forward Bob Love, one of the first stars the team had, has died at the age of 81 after a battle with cancer.

Doc Rivers grew up in Maywood watching Bob Love on the Bulls. Rivers said Love "epitomized not only toughness as a player, but also what he went through in life."

Bob Love was one of the first names to become synonymous with greatness and the Chicago Bulls. A three-time All-Star who played nine of his 11 NBA seasons in Chicago, Love was the second Bulls player to have his jersey retired.

Love set an attitude for the Bulls in his nine seasons with the team and was an elite offensive and defensive force.

Former Chicago Bulls star Bob Love died Monday after battling cancer, the team announced. He was 81.

Doc Rivers got emotional Wednesday when speaking about Bob Love, the former Chicago Bulls star forward and three-time All-Star who died Monday at the age of 81 after a long battle with cancer. Love, who spent 11 years in the NBA,