Jo Jo White

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

White was born in St. Louis, the son of a Baptist minister, George L. White Sr. and his wife, Elizabeth Rebecca Guynn. As the youngest of seven children, he had three elder sisters and three elder brothers. He started playing basketball at six and played on the basketball team at McKinley High School in St. Louis. Due to his age, White was eligible to play college basketball a semester early at the University of Kansas. He joined the team in mid-season and entered the NCAA tournament. In the Midwest regional final against Texas Western, during the first overtime, White took and made a 35-foot runner as the buzzer sounded, but he was ruled out of bounds by referee Rudy Marich. The team lost in the second overtime. White made the consensus NCAA All-American Second Team in 1968 and 1969. He made the All-Big Eight team in 1967, 1968, and 1969. He graduated with a degree in physical education. After college, White played on the 1968 U.S. Olympic basketball team in Mexico City, going undefeated (9–0) and winning the gold medal against Yugoslavia. After the Olympics, White was drafted in 1969 in the first round (9th pick overall) by the Boston Celtics. He had a mandatory two-year military commitment with the US Marine Corps, but Red Auerbach shortened it. White made the All-NBA rookie team during the 1970 season. He was an All-Star for seven straight years from 1971 through 1977. In 1974, White and the Celtics reached the 1974 NBA Finals and won the championship. In 1976, White was part of a dominant Celtics squad and was named Finals MVP. He set a franchise record of 488 consecutive games played. White was traded to the Golden State Warriors in the middle of the 1978–79 NBA season. He 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 age 41, White attempted a professional comeback as a player-assistant coach with the Topeka Sizzlers of the Continental Basketball Association. On Friday, April 9, 1982, his number 10 was hung from the rafters at the Boston Garden. He made the All-NBA Second Team in the 1974–75 and 1976–77 NBA seasons. White was director of special projects and community relations with the Celtics at the time of his death.

In Their Own Story

The defining chapter of Jo Jo White’s career unfolded during the 1976 NBA Finals against the Phoenix Suns. In what is often cited as the greatest game ever played, Game 5 extended into triple overtime. White logged a staggering 60 minutes on the court, scoring a game-high 33 points and dishing out 9 assists to lead Boston to a 128–126 victory. His performance was so dominant that only Suns’ guard Garfield Heard played more minutes (61). This triumph earned White the Finals MVP award, cementing his status as the heart of the team. Earlier in his career, White had already proven his mettle in 1974, guiding a small, quick lineup featuring undersized center Dave Cowens to the franchise's first championship since the Russell era. He navigated a depleted roster where Lucius Allen was injured for the Bucks, showcasing his ability to elevate teammates under pressure. Even after an injury in the 1977–78 season ended his record-breaking streak of 488 consecutive games, White remained a vital figure, playing through pain and maintaining the competitive spirit that defined the Celtics' golden decade.

Reader's Guide

Jo Jo White was a point guard for the Boston Celtics from 1969 to 1979, known for his durability, playmaking, and clutch performances. He was a seven-time NBA All-Star and two-time NBA champion, earning Finals MVP in 1976. His No. 10 jersey was retired by the Celtics in 1982, and he was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2015.

Did You Know?

• White set a Celtics record with 488 consecutive games played.
• He was named Finals MVP in 1976 after scoring 33 points in Game 5, a triple-overtime win often called 'the greatest game ever played.'
• White was a member of the 1968 U.S. Olympic team that won gold in Mexico City.
• He made the All-NBA Second Team in the 1974–75 and 1976–77 seasons.