This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 12/6/2015
Hall of Fame point guard Jo Jo White was the straw that stirred the drink for the 1974 Boston Celtics. In just his fifth year with the team, he steered the Celts to a 56-26 regular-season record and, though winning 12 fewer games than the previous season, made the NBA Finals after defeating the Buffalo Braves in six games before ousting the defending NBA champion New York Knicks in five games in the Eastern Conference Finals. In the NBA Finals, Boston locked horns with the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar-led Milwaukee Bucks and pulled out an exciting, four-games-to-three victory. The Celtics grabbed a 3-2 lead in the series and had a chance to close it out, but Abdul-Jabbar and the Bucks rose to the occasion in an epic double-overtime victory in Game 6. The Celtics bounced back like champions for Game 7 in Milwaukee. They changed strategy and began double-teaming Abdul-Jabbar, which freed Boston center Dave Cowens to concentrate more on offense. Cowens responded with 28 points and 14 rebounds, while White and John Havlicek both added 16 points apiece while continuing to draw the Bucks' defensive attention. The Celtics won going away, 102-87.
This lot features White’s 1974 Boston Celtics NBA Championship 14K gold ring issued in replacement of his original ring which was lost. Representing the Celtics first title of the post-Bill Russell era, the ring features White’s name on one of one shank, bannered above the Celtics logo and the word “Pride.” On the opposite side is the NBA logo flanked by the year "1974." Around the perimeter of the face appears "N.B.A. WORLD CHAMPIONS" in raised lettering, encompassing a large diamond that sits in the center. Stamped inside the band is “BALFOUR 14K.” The ring presents beautifully with moderate evidence of wear. Ring side: 11. A terrific piece of jewelry commemorating White’s first title with the legendary franchise.
Includes Letter of Provenance from Jo Jo White.