Joe Bryant, Former NBA Great And Father Of NBA Legend Kobe, Has Died

Joe Bryant , former NBA star and the father of basketball legend Kobe Bryant , has sadly passed away at the age of 69.

The news of his death was confirmed by La Salle head coach Fran Dunphy, who revealed that Joe Bryant had recently suffered a massive stroke, the Inquirer reports. At this time, no further details have been shared.

Joe, also known as “Jellybean,” had an impressive basketball career of his own. He was a Philadelphia basketball legend, making a name for himself at John Bartram High School and La Salle University. In the 1975 NBA Draft, he was drafted by the Golden State Warriors in the first round.

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During his eight seasons in the NBA, Joe Bryant played for teams like the Philadelphia 76ers, San Diego Clippers, and Houston Rockets. He had an average of 8.7 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 1.7 assists in 606 regular season games. Notably, he was a part of the 76ers’ 1976-77 Eastern Conference championship squad.

After his great NBA career, Joe Bryant took his talents overseas, playing eight years in Italy and part of one season in France. He embraced the opportunity to showcase his skills on an international stage.

In addition to his playing career, Joe Bryant ventured into coaching. He served as an assistant coach at La Salle from 1993 to 1996 and went on to have coaching stints in various leagues and countries, including the WNBA, ABA, SlamBall, Italy, Japan, and Thailand.

Tragically, Joe Bryant’s passing comes just four-and-a-half years after the devastating helicopter crash that took the lives of his son Kobe Bryant and granddaughter Gianna. The Bryant family has faced great loss, and the basketball community continues to mourn their losses.

Hollywood Unlocked sends our deepest condolences to the Bryant family during this difficult time.

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