Joe “Jellybean” Bryant, father of the late Basketball Hall of Famer Kobe Bryant, passed away at the age of 69, La Salle University announced on Tuesday.
Bryant, known for his eight seasons in the NBA with three different teams, suffered a severe stroke recently, according to Fran Dunphy, La Salle’s coach, as reported by the Philadelphia Inquirer.
“We are saddened to announce the passing of La Salle basketball great Joe Bryant,” the university said in a news release. “Joe played for the Explorers from 1973-75 and served on our coaching staff from 1993-96. He was a cherished member of the Explorer community and will be greatly missed.”
Joe Bryant was drafted as the 14th pick by the Golden State Warriors in 1975, but his rights were sold to the Philadelphia 76ers before his rookie season. He played four seasons with the 76ers, three with the San Diego Clippers, and one with the Houston Rockets, averaging 8.7 points over 606 games.
Following his NBA career, Bryant pursued coaching opportunities internationally, including in France and Italy. His time in Italy was pivotal for his son Kobe Bryant, where he developed a passion for basketball and became fluent in Italian. The family returned to the Philadelphia area when Kobe was 13, and he subsequently rose to stardom in high school before entering the NBA at 17.
Joe Bryant also coached in various countries, including Italy, Japan, and Thailand, and had stints with the WNBA’s Los Angeles Sparks, coinciding with his son’s tenure as a Lakers star.
