La Salle University Athletics mourns the loss of men’s basketball legend Joe “Jellybean” Bryant, who passed away on Monday morning. Bryant, the father of the late NBA Hall of Famer Kobe Bryant, was a standout player at La Salle from 1973-75. He played a crucial role in the 1975 East Coast Conference Championship team, securing an NCAA Tournament spot for the Explorers.
“I am heartbroken by the sudden loss of my uncle,” said La Salle men’s basketball assistant coach and Bryant’s nephew. “He was a basketball icon in Philadelphia and someone I deeply admired. His impact on La Salle and the Philly basketball community will be felt for years to come.”
Bryant was a two-time First Team All-Big 5 selection in 1974 and 1975. In 1975, he led La Salle to a 22-7 record, winning the Sugar Bowl Classic and being named tournament MVP. That year, the team reached as high as No. 7 in the Associated Press Top 25 Poll and secured their first NCAA Tournament berth since 1968. Bryant still ranks 7th all-time in career rebounding average (11.9), 9th in scoring average (20.7), and 10th in career field goal percentage (48.6).
In just two seasons, the 6-9 forward amassed 1,188 points. He twice earned National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) All-District honors, in 1974 on the Third Team and in 1975 with First Team recognition. Bryant was drafted 14th overall by the Golden State Warriors in the 1975 NBA Draft before being acquired by his hometown Philadelphia 76ers later that year.
Bryant played eight years in the NBA, with four seasons at the Sixers (1975-79) and three with the San Diego Clippers (1979-82). He spent his final NBA season with the Houston Rockets before playing professionally overseas in France and Italy for nine years. He finished his NBA career averaging 8.7 points and 4.0 rebounds in 606 games.
Following his playing career, Bryant took on various coaching roles, including a stint as an assistant coach at La Salle from 1993-96. He also served as head coach of the Women’s National Basketball Association’s Los Angeles Sparks.
In 1981, Bryant was inducted into the Big 5 Hall of Fame.