Kobe Bryant's dad, Joe, dies at 69 after suffering massive stroke

Joe "Jellybean" Bryant, the father of the late NBA icon Kobe Bryant and former NBA star, has passed away at the age of 69 .

The Philadelphia Inquirer reported the death of the 8-year NBA veteran on Tuesday morning. La Salle head coach Fran Dunphy confirmed to the outlet that Bryant suffered a stroke, though further details about the incident remain undisclosed.

A Pennsylvania resident with deep ties to Philadelphia, Joe Bryant's passing comes nearly four and a half years after the tragic deaths of his son Kobe and granddaughter Gianna in a California helicopter crash in January 2020. An outpouring of condolences and prayers from the public instantly began to pour in online as fans, friends, and organizations reflected on the significant losses the Bryant family has endured in recent years.

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The La Salle Men's Basketball team responded to the news of Joe Bryant's passing with a heartfelt post on X, writing, "We are saddened to announce the passing of La Salle basketball great Joe Bryant. Joe played for the Explorers from 1973-75 and was a member of our coaching staff from 1993-96. He was a beloved member of the Explorer family and will be dearly missed."

Italian team Olimpia Milano, who Bryant co-owned from 1999 to 2000, also expressed their condolences to the Bryant family. NBA fans joined the tributes, sharing the iconic clip of Bryant dunking on Kareem Abdul-Jabbar , the NBA's second all-time leading scorer.

"Jellybean" Bryant, earning his nickname for liking the candy, carved his path in basketball during the early 1970s at La Salle University. As a sophomore, he averaged an impressive 18.7 points per game, and by his junior season, he elevated his performance to 21.8 points per game, leading the team in scoring and rebounding with 11.4 rebounds per game. Notably, Joe was the only member of his La Salle roster to make it to the NBA.

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In the 1975 NBA Draft, Joe was selected 14th overall by the Golden State Warriors, marking the beginning of an exceptional professional career that would span eight seasons. His journey from collegiate standout to NBA player laid the foundation for a lasting legacy in the basketball community, one that would be further cemented by his son, Kobe .

Joe Bryant's early NBA career started with a swerve. He never suited up for the Warriors; his draft rights were miraculously traded to his hometown Philadelphia 76ers , where he began his NBA career. As a 6-foot-10 power forward, Bryant played his first four seasons in Philly with the entire city behind his back, averaging 8.7 points and four rebounds per game before being traded to the San Diego Clippers.

With the Clippers, Bryant enjoyed his best NBA season in 1981, posting 11.8 points per game on a career-high 48 percent shooting. Despite his individual success, the team struggled, finishing with a 17-65 record and placing 6th in the NBA's Pacific Division.

However, Joe's most influential basketball impact on the court came during his overseas career in Italy and France from 1982 to 1992. As a member of Italy's UNAHOTELS Reggio Emilia, he averaged over 21 points per game for three seasons. His three-point shooting dramatically improved from 28 percent in his last NBA season to an impressive 45.2 percent with the French club Mulhouse in his final playing season.