When I saw Celtics legend Jo Jo White at the game the other night I started wondering why he wasn't in the Basketball Hall of Fame. White made 7 All Star teams, and had career averages of 17.2 points, 4.0 rebounds and 4.9 assists per game. His playoff number were even better: 21.5, 4.4, 5.7. Add to the impressive individual numbers two NBA Championships and the '76 Finals MVP. So why isn't White in the Hall of Fame? Apparently it has less to do with his impressive resume and more to do with the reluctance of the Hall to induct actual NBA players. While a college hoops broadcaster (Dick Vitale) and a women's coach from the 70's (Cathy Rush) are part of the '08 Hall class, White was not even among the 15 finalists. Last year there were no NBA players in the 7-member class; opting to elect an NBA coach, men's and women's college coaches, two international coaches, an entire college team and a referee. Yes, a referee is in the Hall and Jo Jo White is not. Does this make sense to anybody? In the past 15 years only 27 of 90 inductees (30%) have been NBA players, and in the past four years it's only 6 of 25 (24%). After doing the research to answer the question of why Jo Jo White isn't in the Hall of Fame I came to realize it has absolutely nothing to do with #10 at all, and everything to do with what a joke the Basketball "Hall of Fame" actually is.
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A comparison of 3 former NBA Finals MVPs, Jo Jo White, Dennis Johnson and Joe Dumars....
REGULAR SEASON STATISTICS
Points
Jo Jo - 17.2
Dumars - 16.1
DJ - 14.1
Rebounds
Jo Jo - 4.9
DJ - 2.5
Dumars - 1.5
Assists
DJ - 5.0
Jo Jo - 4.9
Dumars - 4.5
Steals
DJ - 1.3
Jo Jo - 1.3
Dumars - 0.9
Blocks
DJ - 0.6
Jo Jo - 0.2
Dumars - 0.1
All Star Teams
Jo Jo - 7
Dumars - 6
DJ - 5
All NBA Teams
DJ - 1st (1), 2nd (1)
Jo Jo - 2nd (2)
Dumars - 2nd (1)
All Defense
DJ - 1st (6), 2nd (3)
Dumars - 1st (4), 2nd (1)
Jo Jo - None
===========================
PLAYOFF STATISTICS
Points
Jo Jo - 21.5
DJ - 17.3
Dumars - 15.6
Rebounds
Jo Jo - 4.4
DJ - 4.3
Dumars - 2.3
Assists
Jo Jo - 5.7
DJ - 5.6
Dumars - 4.6
Steals
DJ - 1.4
Jo Jo - 1.2
Dumars - 0.8
Blocks
DJ - 0.6
Jo Jo - 0.1
Dumars - 0.1
Titles
DJ - 3
Jo Jo - 2
Dumars - 2
Finals MVP
Each have 1
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This was not done to pick apart Joe Dumars, but how in the world does he get inducted in his 2nd year of eligibility, the same as Dominique Wilkins, when Jo Jo White cannot even make the Final 15 under consideration and DJ cannot get inducted. Am I missing something here?
(sorry for the extra long post and comment, but a grudge will do that to a guy)
One more Hall fact:
Since the Finals MVP was first given out in 1969 only 3 players have won the Finals MVP and not made the Hall. Coincidentally (?) all 3 of these players have their numbers retired by the Boston Celtics: Jo Jo White, DJ & Cedric Maxwell.
If you think White should be in the HOF why do you have him ranked behind players that don't belong their respective HOFs in your top 100?
A quick look at your top 100 reveals at least one player from each of the other major teams in town that should not be in their HOF, or aren't in the HOF, or have no shot, yet you have them ranked ahead of White.
Drew Bledsoe (not deserving of HOF)
Rick Middleton (deserving, not in)
Dwight Evans (borderline at best)
Even a player form his own sport, with no shot at the HOF, you have ranked 37 spots in front of him!
Is this entry from you just your way of admitting that you made a mistake in your ranking of White with out actually coming out and saying you screwed up?
A few things Joe....
1. The Top 100 is not necessarily ranked from best to worst player. That is quite obvious from Nomar losing this week and many people citing his unlikability, etc.
2. Rick Middleton should be in the Hall of Fame, no question.
3. Although I think Jo Jo White actually had a better career than Drew Bledsoe, I think Bledsoe actually meant/means more to the Pats franchise than White means to his. (yes I know you hate Drew Bledsoe and will disagree with this but it's true).
4. Dwight Evans deserved more Hall of Fame consideration that he got. 8 Gold Gloves, almost 400 home runs, on-base machine, and the classiest Red Sox ever.
5. The player you mentioned ranked 37 spots ahead of him with no shot at the Hall is Reggie Lewis. He played for Northeastern Univ (in Boston) and earns credit for that as well (Doug Flutie isn't up there based on his Pats career). If we were going based on their respective Celts careers Lewis would not be anywhere near Jo Jo.
6. The Ladder clearly may have some flaws (even in my own opinion on second look) but that is what we have the Wednesday Challenges!
Also....
this posting was as much about the ridiculousness of who they have been letting in the Hall (Vitale, referees, etc) as who they have not (White, DJ, etc).
You are right, Bledsoe getting hurt and opening the door for Brady makes him much more valuable to the Pats than a 7 time all-star and finals MVP is the Celts. My bad.
Lewis's college stats put him that high? Yet Boston's own Dana Barros didn't make the top 100?
High School (Xaverian Bros. Westwood, MA) - 40 ppg, 2 time all scholatic football player
College - 2nd all time Big East (not America East) scorer when graduated
Pro played 6 seasons for Celtics
I'd like to add Barros is also extremely likable and still involved in the community. I'm not saying he should be as high as Lewis, but he is comparable enough to be within in 73 spots of Lewis and make the list.
I know that being a kid during a player's prime can add to their mystique, and dying young can pull at the heart strings...but 27 seems way too high.
Is it my imagination or is that a hint of an admission of a mistake by DK? "The Ladder clearly may have some flaws (even in my own opinion on second look)" I'm impressed DK.
I will agree that Dana has a legitimate argument to be on the Ladder, but high school stats shouldn't aren't overly taken into consideration here because I believe it leaves the door too wide open to people who would otherwise be unworthy. In other words, the Bryan Edwards and Rudy Harris-type high school stars of the world don't make the list in my eyes.
Also, I'm not saying the list is perfect...but that is why we vote!
Damn, those stats are baffling.
Jo Jo is also a really good guy, so much for taking class into the equation.
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