Joe “Jellybean” Bryant, a former NBA player and father of the late Kobe Bryant, passed away at the age of 69 after suffering a major stroke, according to La Salle coach Fran Dunphy.
Bryant played for La Salle from 1973 to 1975 before playing in the NBA for eight seasons with the Philadelphia 76ers, San Diego Clippers, and Houston Rockets.
He then continued his basketball career in Europe for nine seasons, mostly in Italy.
Throughout his NBA career, Bryant averaged 8.7 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 1.7 assists per game.
After retiring as a player, he went on to coach, including leading the Los Angeles Sparks on two occasions. He also had a successful coaching career in Japanese professional basketball.
Despite his own impressive accomplishments in the sport, Bryant is best known as the father of Kobe Bryant. The Lakers great entered the 1996 NBA draft out of high school and played his entire 20-year career in Los Angeles. He won five NBA championships, one regular-season MVP and is considered one of the fiercest competitors in all of professional sports history.
Kobe Bryant and his 13-year-old daughter Gianna were among nine people who died in a January 2020 helicopter crash. Kobe Bryant was 41.
Joe Bryant is survived by his wife, Pam, and their two daughters, Sharia and Shaya, along with the couple’s grandchildren.
