Joe Bryant, nicknamed Jellybean for his love of candy, played eight seasons in the NBA (76ers, Clippers and Rockets) before moving overseas.
Philadelphia (Associated Press) Joe “Jellybean” Bryant, father of the late basketball Hall of Famer Kobe Bryant, has passed away, his alma mater announced Tuesday.
Bryant, who played eight seasons in the NBA with three different teams, was 69. The Philadelphia Inquirer, citing La Salle University coach Fran Dunphy, reported that Joe Bryant recently suffered a severe stroke.
“We are sad to announce the passing of La Salle University basketball great Joe Bryant,” the school said in a news release. “Joe played for the Explorers from 1973-1975 and was a member of our coaching staff from 1993-1996. He was a beloved member of the Explorers family and will be dearly missed.”
We are saddened to announce the passing of La Salle University basketball great Joe Bryant.
Joe played for the Explorers from 1973 to 1975 and was a member of our coaching staff from 1993 to 1996. He was a beloved member of the Explorers family and we will miss him dearly. pic.twitter.com/A3sgZzVkkt
— La Salle Men's Basketball (@LaSalle_MBB) July 16, 2024
Kobe Bryant, his daughter Gianna, and seven others died in a helicopter crash in January 2020 in Calabasas, California, while on their way to a basketball tournament. Joe and Pam Bryant, who had been married for nearly half a century and whose relationship with Kobe was sometimes frosty, sat front row at his memorial in Los Angeles about a month after his and Gianna's deaths.
“Sorry to hear of the passing of my father-in-law,” Kobe's widow, Vanessa Bryant, posted to her Instagram Story on Tuesday. “I wish things had been different. Though we didn't spend much time together, he was always a kind and fun person to be around. Kobe loved him very much.”
Joe Bryant was selected 14th overall by Golden State in the 1975 draft, and the Warriors sold his rights to Philadelphia before the start of 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 games.
Joe Bryant and his son Kobe Bryant pose for a photo in 2002.
From there, he embarked on an international career, with stops in France and Italy. His years in Italy shaped Kobe Bryant; it was there that he truly developed his love for basketball and also became fluent in Italian. When Kobe Bryant was 13, his family returned to the Philadelphia area, where he became a star in his high school and was drafted four years later.
“We are deeply saddened by the passing of Joe Jellybean Bryant and join the basketball community in mourning a true Philadelphia basketball legend,” said Detroit Pistons Vice Chairman Arn Tellem, former agent of Kobe Bryant. “Our friendship allowed me to represent Kobe during his NBA career and I will always cherish those memories. Joe was a devoted husband, father and grandfather whose warmth touched all who encountered him.”
Joe Bryant has coached teams in Italy, Japan and Thailand as well as the WNBA's Los Angeles Sparks, and he will be coaching in the same city where his son played for many years.
