NBA Hall of Famer and legendary Boston Celtic passes away
Boston Celtics legend and NBA Hall of Famer Jo Jo White died Tuesday at 71.
“My dad died from complications (pneumonia) from dementia that was brought on by the removal of a benign brain tumor in May 2010,” Meka White Morris, White’s daughter, confirmed to ESPN’s The Undefeated.
White was an integral cog of the Celtics teams that won championships in 1974 and 1976. White also earned Finals MVP in 1976.
A 6-foot-3 point guard, White made seven All-Star teams while averaging 17.2 points, 4.9 assists and 4.0 rebounds over the course of a 12-year career that began in 1969.
In fact, White still holds the Celtics’ all-time record of 488 consecutive games played.
White helped fill a pivotal void in the Celtics, with the great Bill Russell announcing his retirement shortly before White reported to training camp for his rookie year.
Despite losing Russell, the Boston teams that White was a part of were still distinguished, with John Havlicek and Dave Cowens playing key roles alongside White.
The @Celtics remember JoJo White! #Celtics pic.twitter.com/eoQL27AJAC
— NBA (@NBA) January 17, 2018
The Celtics selected White with the ninth overall pick after his distinguished career for the Kansas Jayhawks, where he was a two-time All-American and three-time team MVP.
White also won a gold medal in the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City.
“Jo Jo White was a legend of our game. Two-time NBA champion, Finals MVP and Olympic gold medalist — a model of consistent excellence and uncommon poise,” NBA commissioner Adam Silver said in a statement.
“He was a Hall of Fame player and an even bigger legend to countless people he inspired and communities he gave back to, especially in his longtime role as the Celtics’ director of special projects. On behalf of the NBA family, I extend my deepest sympathies to Jo Jo’s family and friends and the Celtics organization.”
“We are terribly saddened by the passing of the great Jo Jo White,” the Celtics said in a team statement.
“He was a champion and a gentleman; supremely talented and brilliant on the court, and endlessly gracious off of it. Jo Jo was a key member of two championship teams, an NBA Finals MVP, a gold medal-winning Olympian, and a Hall of Famer. His contributions to the team’s championship legacy may have only been surpassed by the deep and lasting impact that he had in the community. The thoughts and sympathies of the entire Celtics organization are with the White family.”
“We are deeply saddened by the loss of an incredible husband and father,” White’s family said in a statement.
“He was a Hall Of Fame basketball player but an even better man. We sincerely appreciate all of the love and continued prayers, but we ask for privacy as we spend time as a family reflecting and celebrating his life.”
As is plain to see, there were no shortages of glowing things those around White had to say about him.
Extremely sad to hear about the passing of @Hoophall @Celtic Great JoJo White, lost his fight with cancer. He was not just a great player, but a great person. #RIPJoJoWhite @NBA #CelticsNation https://t.co/exjlnSe0iT
— TheBillRussell (@RealBillRussell) January 17, 2018
Even the the typically surly ex-Celtic and current New Orleans Pelican Rajon Rondo had nothing but nice things to say.
“He always supported me. He always gave me great advice and his family, his wife, was very kind to me as well. I send my condolences to the White family,” Rondo said after his team’s 116-113 overtime win over the Celtics.
White underwent surgery in 2010 to remove a brain tumor.
He was eventually elected to the Hall of Fame in 2015.
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