SPRINGFIELD, MASS. – Joseph Henry “Jo Jo” White, enshrined as a member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2015, has passed away at the age of 71.
“The Basketball Hall of Fame sincerely mourns the passing of our friend, Jo Jo White,” said John L. Doleva, President and CEO of the Basketball Hall of Fame. “He was a true gentleman of the game, a standout player with the World Champion Celtics of the late seventies and a teammate that was well-liked by his peers at each level of the game. He will be truly missed by the basketball community and the people of Massachusetts.”
From his All-America days at the University of Kansas, to his run to gold in the 1968 Olympics, to the 33 points he scored in the classic triple-overtime thriller in Game 5 of the 1976 NBA Finals, Jo Jo White was the perfect fit for any team chasing the championship hardware. The seven-time All-Star worked tirelessly, consistently logging more than 40 minutes per night for the Boston Celtics. The durable White was a coach’s dream - the consummate professional, the steadfast teammate, the single-minded competitor, and the fundamentally-sound leader. He led by example as a quiet presence on the court, a calming influence in the locker room, and a rare individual talent who valued team dynamics. White recorded more than 14,000 points, 4,000 assists, and 3,000 rebounds in 12 NBA seasons and graduated fourth on the all-time scoring chart at Kansas. In 2012, White started the Jo Jo White Foundation to provide support for brain cancer research.
About the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame: Located in Springfield, Massachusetts, the city where basketball was invented, the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame promotes and preserves the game of basketball at every level – professional, collegiate and high school, for both men and women on the global stage.
For more information:
Visit us on the web: www.hoophall.com
… on Facebook: www.facebook.com/BHOF
… on Twitter/Instagram: @hoophall
… or call 1-877-4-HOOPLA