Joe “Jellybean” Bryant, father of Kobe Bryant and former NBA player, passed away at sixty-nine. No cause of death was disclosed, but La Salle University and coach Fran Dunphy noted he recently suffered a severe stroke.
Bryant, a standout at La Salle University, played in the NBA and internationally. The 76ers honored him as a “local basketball icon.” He averaged 8.7 points and 4.0 rebounds in 606 NBA games.
Kobe once praised his father’s influence, saying Joe taught him “how to view the game, how to prepare for the game and how to execute.”
After his playing career, Joe coached in the U.S., Japan, and Thailand, including with the WNBA’s Los Angeles Sparks.
Arn Tellem called him a “true Philly hoops legend,” while Doug Young remembered him as an exceptional role model.
