INDIANAPOLIS – Jo Jo White should have been in the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame a long time ago. If that thought didn’t cross your mind on its own, he certainly would let you know that he was waiting . . . and waiting.
The waiting is over.
The Class of 2015 was introduced at a press conference at the Final Four Monday and White, who starred at Kansas before becoming a seven-time NBA All-Star and two-time NBA champion with the Boston Celtics, was one of 11 who will be inducted in Springfield, Mass.
“It must be for a reason,” White said of his wait. “That’s how I look at it. Going through different levels of development. Some people want to hurry it. Some go too fast. But finding out where your seat is. Finding out how you can help your team. Then it shows what you can do to make your team better.”
White, 68, answered several questions in those terms, talking about the hard work it takes to develop as a player to relate to his experience of reaching the Hall of Fame.
“See, I was always the guy with the ball,” he said.
But the bottom line for White was the thrill of getting the news through a telephone call recently.
“I’m so excited and blessed to have the honor of being inducted into the Hall of Fame,” White said. “Words cannot express the way I feel at this time, just so very happy and overwhelmed.”
White was a two-time All-American at Kansas, playing for coach Ted Owens. Owens doesn’t hesitate to say White was one of the best players ever at Kansas. The St. Louis native was a three-time All-Big Eight Conference selection and was named KU’s most valuable player for three consecutive seasons. He scored 1,286 points, which ranks 29th all-time at Kansas after all these years.
Despite all those accomplishments, his great years with the Celtics, and winning a gold medal with the U.S. Olympic team in 1968, White might be best known at KU for the 1966 Midwest Regional final against Texas Western at Lubbock, Tex. In the final seconds of the first overtime, White hit a long jumper from the left sideline that fell through the net as the buzzer sounded. But he was called for stepping out of bounds, the basket didn’t count and Texas Western won in the second overtime.
In previous interviews, White and Owens have both told me they are convinced he didn’t step out. Monday, White told Blair Kerkhoff of the Kansas City Star a different story. “My foot was out,” he said.
Guess we will never know for sure.
White said he returns to Lawrence every year. But he made it clear he doesn’t like the direction college basketball has taken in general.
“I mean, I absolutely adore playing ball,” he said. “And now, they are putting a lot of bullshit in the game. And it’s taking a lot away from the young ones who are in right now. Legitimate players trying to put the right pieces together. The game is about dollars and cents now. That’s the problem.
“For me, I know that I had prepared myself – in case. I worked on my game. You position yourself. And you are ready when it’s time to be ready.”
And now he is ready to enter the Hall of Fame. Induction ceremonies will be held Sept. 10-12 in Springfield.
Joining White in the Class of 2015 are: Dick Bavetta (referee), John Calipari (coach), Spencer Haywood (player and White’s teammate on the 1968 Olympic team), Dikembe Mutombo (player), Lisa Leslie (player), Louie Dampier (player), George Raveling (contributor), John Isaacs (player), Lindsay Gaze (coach) and Tom Heinsohn (coach). Heinsohn was elected by the veterans committee. He becomes one of four people inducted as a player and a coach. The others are Bill Sharman, John Wooden and Lenny Wilkens.
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