Joseph Henry "Jo Jo" White (born November 16, 1946) was an American professional basketball player.
White is a native of St. Louis, Missouri, and played college basketball at the University of Kansas. Drafted in 1969 by the NBA's Boston Celtics, who at that time had just won their 11th championship in 13 years. However, before White even reported to training camp, the Celtics' legendary center and player-coach Bill Russell announced his retirement. White went on to be one of professional basketball's first iron man, playing in all 82 games for five consecutive seasons during the 1970s. White's skills included great defense, speed, an underrated jump shot, and team leadership. Perhaps his greatest game was the triple overtime game against the Phoenix Suns in which he scored 33 points. He was the MVP of the NBA Finals that year (1974) as well.
The 1970 Celtics finished with the franchise's first losing record since 1951. But with White leading the attack from the point guard position, the team returned to its winning ways in 1971. White was an All-Star for seven straight years from 1971 through 1977. He finished in the top ten in the league in assists from 1973-77. He was a durable all-around player, a very good free throw shooter, and a prolific scorer. In 1974 and 1976, White helped lead the Celtics to the NBA championship and was named the most valuable player of the 1976 NBA Finals. He was traded by the Celtics to the Golden State Warriors in 1979, and retired in 1981.
White continues to be involved in basketball and holds an administrative position with the Boston Celtics.
JoJo White was the consummate professional basketball player. He was durable and displayed discipline; he was a tenacious defender; he was a superb jump shooter and very underrated playmaker; and he was a leader.
The 6-3 guard was such a dynamic and gifted all-around athlete that the NFL Dallas Cowboys and the Cincinnati Reds both drafted him. White, however, chose basketball and the Celtics. He abandoned his successful walk-up collegiate style of basketball to ignite and propel Boston's famed fast-breaking attack and was an inspiring source of both playing and scoring consistency in the 1970's.
White may have invented the term, "ironman streak," in the NBA. From the 1972-73 season through the 1976-77 campaign, five consecutive seasons, White played in all 82 regular season games for the Celtics -- a measure that is unheard of today. To accentuate matters, for seven straight seasons White logged more than 3200 minutes per season. There is little argument why he was named to the NBA All-Star Team each of those seven years.
He reached the pinnacle of his career in 1976. On June 4 at the hot, jam-packed Boston Garden in Game 5 of the NBA Championship Finals against the Phoenix Suns, White calmly and quietly led the Celtics with 33 points spread out over 60 minutes in the 128-126 triple-overtime victory. It was easy to see why No. 10 was crowned the NBA Finals Most Valuable Player.
White remains with the Celtics organization, serving as Director of Special Projects and Community Relations Representative. Jo Jo chatted live on June 4. See what he had to say.