Known as the sharpshooting guard for the Boston Celtics, Jo Jo White died on Tuesday. When he died, he was 71. The death news came to limelight after the Boston Celtics informed this first. But the team had not stated anything about the reason behind the death and where he died. Later his daughter, Meka White Morris informed the reason behind his death and said: “My dad died from complications (pneumonia) from dementia that was brought on by the removal of a benign brain tumour in May 2010.”
He was selected into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2015. His incredible gameplay style had helped the team to enter into two National Basketball Association Championship in the year 1970. In 1968 Olympics held in Mexico City, he was awarded a gold medal with the USA Olympic basketball team. In 1968, the Celtics drafted him with the ninth overall pick after draft out of Kansas. He had also elected for team’s MVP for three consecutive seasons. He had played in 488 consecutive games with the Celtics.
NBA commissioner Adam Silver said “Jo Jo White was a legend of our game. Two-time NBA champion, Finals MVP and Olympic gold medalist and a model of consistent excellence and uncommon poise.”
Former Boston guard Rajon Rondo said “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.”
Jo Jo White whose real name was Joseph Henry White was born Nov. 16, 1946, in St. Louis. His father was a Baptist minister and the former Elizabeth Guynn. He got his nickname Jo Jo while he was in high school. One day one of his coaches hollered his name twice to get this attention, and from that day he was called as Jo Jo White.
