Jo Jo White was an American professional basketball player. He played college basketball at the University of Kansas and won a gold medal with the US Men’s basketball team in the 1968 Olympics. He was drafted 9th overall by the Boston Celtics in the 1969 NBA draft and played ten seasons for the team, winning two NBA Championships and being named Finals MVP in 1976. He was a seven-time NBA All-Star and his No. 10 jersey was retired by the Celtics in 1982. He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2015.
Early Life
Jo Jo White was born in St. Louis, Missouri as the youngest of seven children to a Baptist minister and his wife. He began playing basketball at the age of six and found it to be a platform for community involvement. Growing up, he was a fan of the St. Louis Hawks.
Jo Jo White played college basketball at the University of Kansas, where he was welcomed by the team captain and other players. He joined the team in mid-season and had immediate success, leading the team to the NCAA tournament. The team lost a close game to Texas Western in the Midwest regional final. White became a leader of the team and was named NCAA All-American Second Team in 1968 and 1969. He was also named to the All-Big Eight team for three consecutive years (1967-1969). Due to his early enrolment, he had only one semester of eligibility and played in 18 games during the first semester. He graduated with a degree in physical education. The game against Texas Western was later featured in the movie “Glory Road.”
Career
He was drafted 9th overall in the first round of the 1969 NBA draft by the Boston Celtics after his performance in the 1968 Olympics. At the time of the draft, he had a mandatory two-year military commitment with the US Marine Corps, but Boston’s general manager, Red Auerbach, was able to shorten the commitment so that White could play in the 1969-70 NBA season.
Jo Jo White faced the challenge of replacing the departing Bill Russell and Sam Jones as he joined the Celtics in the 1969-70 season. The Celtics experienced their first losing season in 20 years, but White made the All-NBA rookie team. With the addition of Dave Cowens, Paul Silas, and the retention of John Havlicek and the hiring of coach Tommy Heinsohn, the Celtics returned to their winning ways in 1971 with White leading the team as the point guard. He was named an All-Star for 7 consecutive years from 1971 to 1977, finishing in the top ten in the league in assists from 1973 to 1977. In 1972, he participated in the now-defunct NBA One-on-One tournament where he reached the championship and faced Bob Lanier, but lost due to Lanier’s height advantage.
In 1976, the Celtics returned to the NBA Finals, this time facing the Phoenix Suns. White played a pivotal role in the series, leading the Celtics to a 4-2 victory and being named the Finals MVP. He averaged 21.7 points, 7.0 assists and 4.5 rebounds per game in the series, including a 35-point performance in Game 5. This championship marked White’s second and the Celtics’ 13th in franchise history. White would play three more seasons with the Celtics, making the All-Star team in 1977, before retiring from the NBA in 1979. He remains one of the all-time greats in Celtics history and his No. 10 jersey was retired by the team in 1982.
After winning the championship in 1976, White continued to play for the Celtics, making the All-Star team again in 1977. He retired from the NBA in 1979 after 10 seasons, all with the Celtics, where he amassed a total of 14,017 points and 5,695 assists. He was named one of the Top 50 NBA players of all time by ESPN in 1996. He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2010. White had a successful post-playing career as a coach and executive in the NBA, serving as a coach for the Kansas City Kings and as the general manager for the Sacramento Kings.
White played for the Warriors for two seasons, averaging 8.2 points and 6.2 assists per game. In 1981, he retired from the NBA after a 13-year career and was later inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2010. White’s number 10 jersey was retired by the Boston Celtics, recognizing his contributions to the team and his impact on the sport. He was widely regarded as one of the best point guards of his era and one of the greatest Celtic players of all time.
White retired as a player after 1981 with the Kansas City Kings. He returned to the Jayhawks as an assistant coach from 1982–83. In 1987 at the age of 41, White attempted a professional comeback as a player-assistant coach with the Topeka Sizzlers of the Continental Basketball Association.
Legacy
Jo Jo White was a basketball legend and his achievements speak for themselves. He was drafted by the Boston Celtics in 1969 and played a crucial role in leading them to the 1976 NBA Championship. He was known for his consistency and durability, playing in all 82 games for five consecutive seasons. He was also a 7-time All-Star and made the All-NBA Second Team twice. White’s contributions to the sport of basketball were recognized by many Hall of Fames such as the Missouri Hall of Fame, the Kansas Sports Hall of Fame, the Marine Corps Sports Hall of Fame and the St. Louis Sports Hall of Fame. He was remembered as a dedicated player who made a significant impact on the sport, and his number 10 was retired by the Boston Celtics.
Jo Jo White’s induction into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2015 was long overdue and well-deserved, considering his successful career as a point guard for the Boston Celtics. White’s career accomplishments include All-NBA Second Team honors in 1974–75 and 1976–77, seven consecutive All-Star appearances, a 1976 NBA Finals MVP award, and franchise records for consecutive games played and assists. His recognition also extends beyond the NBA, as he was inducted into the Missouri Hall of Fame, Kansas Sports Hall of Fame, Marine Corps Sports Hall of Fame, and St. Louis Sports Hall of Fame. White’s induction into the Basketball Hall of Fame was celebrated by his former teammates and coach, and was a significant moment for those who had long advocated for his recognition as one of the best players of his era.
Death
White’s death was mourned by the basketball community, with many players and former teammates taking to social media to express their condolences and share memories of him. The Celtics also held a moment of silence before their next home game in his honor. White will always be remembered as a legend of the sport, a player who gave his all on the court and was loved and respected by all who knew him.
