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Celtics great Jo Jo White dead at 71

Jo Jo White was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2015.

BOSTON — JoJo White, who played with the Celtics from 1969 to 1979 and was enshrined in the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2015, passed away at the age of 71.

News of White's passing was first reported by the Boston Herald's Steve Bulpett, who received word from one of White's former teammates.

The news was confirmed by the Celtics shortly before the team's game against New Orleans Tuesday night.

White joined the Celtics after a successful college career at Kansas. He was named to the NBA All-Rookie team in 1970, was named an All-Star seven times and had his No. 10 retired by the Celtics in 1982.

White averaged 21 points per game in the Celtics six-game win over the Phoenix Suns in the 1976 NBA Finals. He was named Finals MVP.

He played for six Celtics teams that reached the playoffs. He had a 13-year career in the NBA, playing two years with the Golden State Warriors and one with the Kansas City Kings after leaving the Celtics. He averaged 20.2 points per game during his career.