Joe “Jellybean” Bryant, father of Kobe Bryant and former NBA player, passed away at sixty-nine. No official cause of death has been disclosed, but he recently suffered a severe stroke, as mentioned by La Salle University and coach Fran Dunphy.
Joe Bryant had been largely out of the public eye since Kobe’s tragic death in a helicopter crash four years ago. In a 2010 interview, Kobe praised his father’s basketball knowledge, saying Joe taught him “how to view the game, how to prepare for the game and how to execute.”
Kobe’s widow, Vanessa, expressed condolences on Instagram: “Sending our condolences upon hearing the news of my father-in-law’s passing… 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 a standout at La Salle University and played professionally in the NBA and abroad. The 76ers honored him as a “local basketball icon.” Doug Young, a former teammate of Kobe, remembered Joe as an exceptional role model.
Joe averaged 8.7 points and 4.0 rebounds over 606 NBA games. After his playing career, he coached in the U.S., Japan, and Thailand, including a stint with the WNBA’s Los Angeles Sparks. Arn Tellem, Kobe’s former agent, called Joe a “true Philly hoops legend.”
