Longtime professional basketball player Joe “Jellybean” Bryant, who had a significant influence on his Hall of Fame son, Kobe, through his extensive European career, has passed away at the age of 69, officials confirmed on Tuesday.
La Salle University, where Bryant played from 1973 to 1975 and later served on the coaching staff from 1993 to 1996, released a statement expressing their sorrow. “We are saddened to announce the passing of La Salle basketball great Joe Bryant. He was a beloved member of the Explorer family and will be dearly missed.”
Bryant played eight seasons in the NBA with the Philadelphia 76ers, the San Diego Clippers, and the Houston Rockets from 1975 to 1983. The 76ers described him as a “Philly basketball icon, whose legacy on the court transcended his journey across Bartram High School, La Salle University, and his first four NBA seasons with the 76ers from 1975-79.” The team extended their condolences to the Bryant family.
Following his NBA career, Bryant spent eight seasons playing for professional teams in France and Italy. During this period, Kobe Bryant, born in 1978, spent much of his childhood in Italy, where he embraced the culture and learned multiple languages.
Kobe Bryant, whose middle name “Bean” honored his father’s nickname, became the fourth-leading scorer in NBA history and is recognized as one of the greatest players in the sport. Sadly, Kobe Bryant died at the age of 41 in a helicopter crash near Los Angeles on January 26, 2020, which also claimed the lives of his daughter Gianna and seven others.
During Kobe Bryant’s posthumous Hall of Fame enshrinement, his wife, Vanessa Bryant, acknowledged her in-laws’ role in raising him. “I invited my mother- and father-in-law to tonight’s enshrinement to thank them for bringing one of the most amazing human beings into this world,” she said. “Pam and Joe, thank you for raising Kobe to be exceptional.”
On Tuesday, Vanessa Bryant expressed her condolences on Instagram, stating, “Although the times we spent together were few, he was always sweet and nice to be around. Kobe loved him very much. Our prayers go out to the family.”