File photo of Kobe Bryant and Joe Bryant© X (Twitter)
Joe “Jellybean” Bryant, a former NBA player and father of Basketball Hall of Fame guard Kobe Bryant, has died at the age of 69, La Salle University announced Tuesday. Bryant played at the Philadelphia School from 1973–1975 and coached the Explorers from 1993–96, and played in Europe alongside the NBA’s Philadelphia 76ers, then San Diego Clippers, and Houston Rockets from 1975–1983. “We are saddened to announce the passing of La Salle basketball great Joe Bryant,” the school said in a statement.
“He was a beloved member of the Explorer family and will be greatly missed.”
Bryant, a forward, played in Italy from 1983-1991 before ending his playing days with French side Mulhouse in 1991.
In his NBA career, Bryant averaged 8.7 points, 4.0 rebounds and 1.7 assists a game.
As head coach, Joe Bryant went 40-24 in parts of three seasons with the Women’s NBA Los Angeles Sparks. He has coached in Asia at clubs in Tokyo, Hokkaido, Bangkok and Fukuoka.
Kobe Bryant, born while his father was playing for the 76ers, was a five-time NBA champion, two-time Olympic gold medalist and 2008 NBA Most Valuable Player who spent his entire NBA career with the Los Angeles Lakers from 1996-2016.
Lakers legend Bryant, an 18-time NBA All-Star guard, died in a 2020 helicopter crash at the age of 41.
(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is generated automatically from a syndicated feed.)
Topics covered in this article
