La Salle University revealed on Tuesday that Joe “Jellybean” Bryant, 69, passed away. Bryant was the father of Basketball Hall of Fame star Kobe Bryant.
La Salle University revealed on Tuesday that Joe “Jellybean” Bryant, 69, passed away. Bryant was the father of Basketball Hall of Fame star Kobe Bryant. After a career that saw him play from 1975 to 1983 for the NBA’s Philadelphia 76ers, then-San Diego Clippers, Houston Rockets, and in Europe, Bryant coached the Explorers from 1993 to 1996 and played at the Philadelphia school from 1973 to 1975. “We regret to inform you of La Salle basketball great Joe Bryant’s passing,” the school released a statement.
“He was a beloved member of the Explorer family and will be dearly missed.”
Before concluding his playing career with the French team Mulhouse in 1991, Bryant, a forward, played in Italy from 1983 to 1991.
Bryant finished his NBA career with an average of 8.7 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 1.7 assists per contest.
With the Women’s NBA Los Angeles Sparks, Joe Bryant had a 40-24 record in parts of three seasons as head coach. He has also served as a coach for clubs in Tokyo, Bangkok, Fukuoka, and Hokkaido in Asia.
A two-time Olympic gold medallist, five-time NBA champion, and 2008 NBA Most Valuable Player, Kobe Bryant was born while his father was playing for the Philadelphia 76ers. He played with the Los Angeles Lakers from 1996 to 2016 during his whole NBA career.At the age of 41, Lakers legend and eighteen-time NBA All-Star guard Kobe Bryant perished in a helicopter crash in 2020.
