Joe “Jellybean” Bryant, the father of the famous basketball player Kobe Bryant, has passed away at the age of 69, according to La Salle University’s athletics department.
The Philadelphia Inquirer mentioned that Joe had recently experienced a stroke, as shared by La Salle men’s head basketball coach Fran Dunphy. The specific cause of his death has not been confirmed yet.
La Salle University, where Joe both played and coached, released a statement saying he was a cherished part of the Explorer family and will be greatly missed.
Joe was a well-known basketball player, just like his famous son.
He was picked 14th overall by the Golden State Warriors in the 1975 NBA draft. Joe played for the Philadelphia 76ers for four years, then spent three years with the San Diego Clippers, and finished his NBA career with one season on the Houston Rockets. He also had a stint playing basketball in Europe.
The 76ers honored Joe by calling him “a local 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.”
Sadly, Joe passed away just four years after the heartbreaking loss of his son Kobe and granddaughter Gianna, who died in a helicopter crash along with seven others.
Vanessa Bryant, Kobe’s widow, shared her thoughts on Instagram on Tuesday, saying, “We are sending our condolences after hearing about my father-in-law’s passing.
“We wished things could have turned out differently. Even though we didn’t spend a lot of time together, he was always kind and pleasant to be around. Kobe cared for him deeply.”
Doug Young, a former teammate of Kobe, remembered Joe as the perfect “role model.”
“Joe was our JV coach at Lower Merion, and I couldn’t have asked for a better mentor, teacher, and role model,” Young told ESPN.
“It’s hard to express how much he impacted me and my teammates. He made basketball enjoyable and inspired us to improve; he had faith in us.
I’ll always remember his bright smile, his big hugs, and the special connection he had with Kobe. Growing up in Lower Merion, there was no family we admired more than the Bryants, and that started with Joe.”
Arn Tellem, who is the vice chairman of the Pistons and was once Kobe Bryant’s agent, shared his sorrow over Joe’s passing and joined the basketball community in honoring a true Philadelphia basketball legend.
“Our friendship allowed me to represent Kobe when he entered the NBA, a memory I will always treasure. Joe was a loving husband, father, and grandfather, whose kindness touched everyone he met.”
May he rest in peace.
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