Joe "Jellybean" Bryant, a former NBA star and the father of the late Kobe Bean Bryant, has died. He was 69.
According to the Philadelphia Inquirer , Joe died on Monday. The official cause of death has not been disclosed, but the Inquirer reported that Joe died after suffering a massive stroke. Joe's death comes more than four years after Kobe, the NBA legend's 13-year-old daughter, Gianna Bryant , and seven others were killed in a horrific helicopter crash on a foggy Sunday morning in Calabasas, California back in January 2020.
Following Joe's death, Kobe's widow, Vanessa Bryant , took to her Instagram Story to share her condolences to the Bryant family.
"Sending our condolences upon hearing the news of my father in law's passing," she wrote. "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. Our prayers go out to [the] family."
Joe, who earned the nickname "Jellybean" for his fascination with the soft-chewy candy, was a 6-foot-9 star at La Salle University in Philadelphia, where he averaged 20.8 points and 11 rebounds per game in two seasons there. Prior to his arrival with the Explorers, Joe was a star at Bartram High School.
The Golden State Warriors drafted him with the 14th overall pick in the 1975 NBA Draft before he was dealt to his hometown Philadelphia 76ers later that year. He was with the Sixers when they reached the 1976-77 NBA Finals against the Portland Trail Blazers, the eventual champion. Joe would play eight seasons in the NBA before launching a 10-year pro basketball career overseas in France and Italy. It was in Italy where a young Kobe devoured tapes of Lakers games.
After his playing days, Joe had a head coaching job with the WNBA's Los Angeles Sparks. He also coached college and pro in the U.S., Japan and Thailand.
"I'm deeply saddened by the passing of Joe 'Jellybean' Bryant and join the basketball community in mourning a true Philly hoops legend," said Detroit Pistons vice chairman Arn Tellem, Kobe's former agent, via The Associated Press . "Our friendship opened the door for me to represent Kobe as he entered the NBA, a memory I'll always cherish. Joe was a devoted husband, father and grandfather, whose warmth touched everyone he met."
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