Please tell me about your current role as Director of Special Projects and Community Relations with the Celtics.
 
It’s a multi-role position that keeps me close to the community.  I enjoy that interaction, yet at the same time I realize that there is a big need to mentor our players.  They need to know what it means to be a Boston Celtic.  They also need a solid understanding of the fundamentals, which has really been lost with players entering the league early.  In today’s NBA, we're paying for potential instead of the proven end product, and that has really caused problems.  We need to go back and teach them those things that will help them be successful in life.  These types of things lend themselves to the title of Director of Player Development, which would certainly be an interesting role to explore.

You have always stressed the value of education, and at one time considered becoming a doctor.  Please tell me about the Jo Jo White Growth League.
 
I started this league in 1981 as a way of working with young people and making a positive impact in their lives.  I wanted our youth to have a sense being connected to their community, and for them to see how they could make a difference in their environments.

The program partnered with corporate sponsorship and offered a point system to reward our youth for community projects.  For example, we took a school and broke it into teams.  Each team was given a project to improve their school and their community.  Points were given to each team member for completion of these projects, which they could exchange for shoes, apparel, etc.  The winning team then received a trip to Disney World as recognition for all of their hard work.

On April 9th, 1982 the Boston Celtics retired your Number 10 to the Boston Garden rafters.  On January 27th of this year, Kansas honored you in similar fashion, retiring your jersey in a special ceremony at halftime of the game against Texas.  What did each of these ceremonies mean to you?
 
Anytime you are recognized for your accomplishments it’s truly an honor.  To have my jersey retired to the Boston Garden rafters was a very special moment for me.

Being honored at Kansas was also a thrill, and something that will always be very special.  It was a privilege to be a part of that.  The whole experience of being on the campus took me back to a very special time in my life.  My mother was able to attend – she’s 90-years old – so she was there for both ceremonies.  I’m very thankful for that.