Joe “Jellybean” Bryant, father of the late Basketball Hall of Famer Kobe Bryant, has passed away at the age of 69, as announced by his alma mater, La Salle University, on Tuesday. Bryant spent eight seasons in the NBA with three different teams. The Philadelphia Inquirer reported, citing La Salle coach Fran Dunphy, that Joe Bryant recently suffered a massive stroke.
La Salle expressed their sorrow, stating, “We are saddened to announce the passing of La Salle basketball great Joe Bryant. Joe played for the Explorers from 1973-75 and was a member of our coaching staff from 1993-96. He was a beloved member of the Explorer family and will be dearly missed.”
Highlighting his career, an archival image from February 19, 1983, shows Houston Rockets’ Joe Bryant facing off against the Philadelphia 76ers.
Kobe Bryant, his daughter Gianna, and seven others tragically died in a helicopter crash in January 2020 in Calabasas, California. Joe and Pam Bryant, married for nearly 50 years, had a challenging relationship with Kobe, but were present at the memorial service held in Los Angeles a month after the accident.
Kobe’s widow, Vanessa Bryant, expressed her condolences on Instagram, stating, “We hoped things would’ve been different. Although the times we spent together were few, he was always sweet and nice to be around. Kobe loved him very much.”
Joe Bryant was the 14th pick in the 1975 draft by Golden State before being traded to Philadelphia. He played for the 76ers for four years, the San Diego Clippers for three years, and the Houston Rockets for one year, finishing with an average of 8.7 points in 606 games. Following his NBA career, he played internationally in France and Italy. His years in Italy significantly influenced Kobe, who developed a deep love for basketball there and became fluent in Italian. The Bryant family returned to Philadelphia when Kobe was 13, leading to Kobe’s rise as a high school basketball star and eventually his NBA draft.
Detroit Pistons Vice Chairman Arn Tellem, who was Kobe’s former agent, remarked, “I’m deeply saddened by the passing of Joe ‘Jellybean’ Bryant and join the basketball community in mourning a true Philly hoops legend. Joe was a devoted husband, father, and grandfather, whose warmth touched everyone he met.”
Joe Bryant also had a coaching career, including international stints in Italy, Japan, and Thailand, and a tenure with the WNBA’s Los Angeles Sparks, where he coached while his son played in the same city.