Joe “Jellybean” Bryant, the father of late Basketball Hall of Famer Kobe Bryant, has died, La Salle University announced Tuesday. He was 69.
Bryant, who played eight seasons in the NBA with three different franchises, recently suffered a massive stroke, according to La Salle coach Fran Dunphy, as reported by The Philadelphia Inquirer.
“We are saddened to announce the passing of La Salle basketball great Joe Bryant,” the school said in a news release. “Joe played for the Explorers from 1973-75 and was a member of our coaching staff from 1993-96. He was a beloved member of the Explorer family and will be dearly missed.”
Joe Bryant’s son, Kobe, along with his granddaughter Gianna and seven others, died in a helicopter crash in January 2020 in Calabasas, California, on their way to a basketball tournament.
Despite a sometimes strained relationship, Joe and his wife Pam were present at Kobe and Gianna’s memorial service in Los Angeles a month after the tragic incident.
“Sending our condolences upon hearing the news of my father-in-law’s passing,” Kobe’s widow, Vanessa Bryant, posted Tuesday on her Instagram story. “We hoped things would’ve been different. Although the times we spent together were few, he was always sweet and nice to be around. Kobe loved him very much.”
Joe Bryant was the 14th overall pick by the Golden State Warriors in the 1975 draft, though his rights were sold to the Philadelphia 76ers before his rookie season. He played four years with the 76ers, three with the San Diego Clippers, and one with the Houston Rockets, averaging 8.7 points in 606 NBA games.
Following his NBA career, Bryant played internationally in France and Italy. His time in Italy was formative for Kobe, who developed a deep love for basketball and became fluent in Italian.
The family returned to the Philadelphia area when Kobe was 13, setting the stage for his rise as a high school basketball star and his subsequent NBA career.
“I’m deeply saddened by the passing of Joe ‘Jellybean’ Bryant and join the basketball community in mourning a true Philly hoops legend,” said Detroit Pistons vice chairman Arn Tellem, Kobe Bryant’s former agent. “Our friendship opened the door for me to represent Kobe as he entered the NBA, a memory I’ll always cherish. Joe was a devoted husband, father, and grandfather, whose warmth touched everyone he met.”
Joe Bryant also had numerous coaching stints, including positions in Italy, Japan, and Thailand, as well as with the WNBA’s Los Angeles Sparks, coinciding with his son’s tenure with the Los Angeles Lakers.
