Another Terrible Loss For The Bryant Family, Sending Prayers
Joe “Jellybean” Bryant, the father of Hall of Famer Kobe Bryant and a former NBA player, has died at the age of sixty-nine.
As of Tuesday morning, the official cause of death has not been revealed. La Salle University, where Bryant both played and later coached, issued a statement noting that he “was a cherished member of the Explorer family and will be profoundly missed.”
Fran Dunphy, La Salle’s head coach and a veteran basketball coach in the Philadelphia region, informed the Philadelphia Inquirer that Bryant had recently experienced a serious stroke.
Since the tragic death of Kobe Bryant in a helicopter crash over four years ago, Joe Bryant had made few public appearances. In a 2010 ESPN interview, Kobe lauded his father’s basketball knowledge, stating that Joe had taught him “from an early age how to view the game, how to prepare for the game, and how to execute.”
In January 2020, Kobe Bryant, his daughter Gianna, and seven others lost their lives in a helicopter accident while en route to a basketball event in Calabasas, California. Joe and Pam Bryant, who had been married for nearly fifty years, attended the memorial service in Los Angeles a month after the tragedy, despite having had a sometimes complicated relationship with Kobe.
Kobe’s widow, Vanessa Bryant, shared her condolences on Instagram, stating, “Sending our condolences upon hearing the news of my father-in-law’s passing. We hoped things would’ve been different. 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 an exceptional player at La Salle University, averaging 20.8 points per game over two seasons. He went on to have a professional career both in the United States and internationally. Drafted by the Golden State Warriors in the first round of the 1975 NBA Draft, he was later acquired by the Philadelphia 76ers.
The 76ers released a statement recognizing Joe Bryant’s influence: “Joe ‘Jellybean’ Bryant was a local basketball icon, whose legacy on the court transcended his journey.”
Doug Young, a former teammate of Kobe Bryant, fondly recalled Joe as an outstanding “role model.” He stated, “Joe was our junior varsity coach at Lower Merion, and I could not have wished for a more encouraging mentor, educator, and role model. He made basketball enjoyable and inspired us all to improve; he had faith in us. I will always remember his contagious smile, his warm embraces, and the remarkable connection he had with Kobe. Growing up in Lower Merion, there was no family we admired more than the Bryants, and that admiration began with Joe.”
Standing at 6 feet 9 inches, Joe Bryant recorded an average of 8.7 points and 4.0 rebounds throughout his 606-game NBA career, playing for the Philadelphia 76ers, Los Angeles Clippers, and Houston Rockets over eight seasons. He was a member of the 1976-77 Sixers team that fell to the Trail Blazers in the NBA Finals.
After spending over a decade playing overseas in France and Italy, Bryant embarked on his coaching career in 1992. He held various coaching roles at both professional and collegiate levels in the United States, Japan, and Thailand, including a stint as the head coach of the WNBA’s Los Angeles Sparks for parts of three seasons.
Arn Tellem, vice chairman of the Pistons and former agent for Kobe Bryant, expressed his condolences: “Joe ‘Jellybean’ Bryant was a genuine legend in Philadelphia basketball. Our friendship paved the way for me to represent Kobe as he entered the NBA, a memory I will always treasure. Joe was a loving husband, father, and grandfather, whose kindness left a lasting impression on everyone he encountered.”
This article includes contributions from the Associated Press and ESPN’s Dave McMenamin.