Former NBA player Joe 'Jellybean' Bryant, father of the late Hall of Famer Kobe Bryant, has passed away at the age of 69. The official cause of his death has not been disclosed at this time.
Bryant, who was a beloved member of the La Salle University community, where he both played and coached, will be deeply missed according to a statement released by the university.
Reports indicate that Bryant recently suffered a massive stroke, as confirmed by Fran Dunphy, the current head coach at La Salle and a longtime basketball figure in the Philadelphia area.
Following the tragic death of his son Kobe in a helicopter crash in 2020, Joe Bryant largely stayed out of the public eye. Kobe had previously spoken highly of his father's influence on his basketball career, describing him as a 'great basketball mind' who taught him valuable lessons about the game.
Joe Bryant had a successful basketball career of his own, playing and coaching professionally in the U.S. and internationally. He was a first-round draft pick of the Golden State Warriors in 1975 before joining the Philadelphia 76ers. Bryant played in the NBA for eight seasons, averaging 8.7 points and 4.0 rebounds over 606 games.
After his NBA career, Bryant continued his involvement in basketball as a coach. He coached the WNBA's Los Angeles Sparks for parts of three seasons and held coaching roles in various leagues in the U.S., Japan, and Thailand.
