The father of Kobe Bryant, Joe “Jellybean” Bryant, died of complications from a stroke. He was 69. His death was announced in a post on the La Salle Men’s Basketball X account on Tuesday.
“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.”
La Salle coach Fran Dunphy told the Philadelphia Inquirer on Tuesday that Joe recently suffered a massive stroke.
The 76ers selected Joe with the No. 14 pick in the 1975 NBA Draft. He played 8 seasons in the NBA.
In his first game for the Clippers Joe famously dunked on Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
October 12, 1979: San Diego’s Joe “Jellybean” Bryant dunks on Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
Lakers 103, Clippers 102.
? pic.twitter.com/WtQ0nY70rO— NBA Cobwebs (@NBACobwebs) October 12, 2021
Joe’s son Kobe inherited his dad’s superior basketball skills. Kobe won five NBA championships and was an 18-time All-Star.
Kobe was partly raised in Italy, where Joe played for several teams.
Kobe died in a helicopter crash on January 26, 2020. He was 41. His wife Vanessa Bryant turned off the comments on her Instagram page on Tuesday.
Kobe’s parents were left penniless when he died. They were forced to sell a replica of one of Kobe’s NBA championship rings to make ends meet.
Rest in peace, Jellybean. It’s you and Kobe now, back together, in hoops heaven, playing that ol’ one on one, like you did when he was 12 and Pam was fussing at you to not be so physical. Truth be known, you had your hands full. Even then. #Showboat #Mamba #Lakers pic.twitter.com/ieLa9vwtfa
— Roland Lazenby (@lazenby) July 16, 2024
Joe was the head coach of the WNBA’s Los Angeles Sparks from 2005 to 2007 and again in 2011. He also coached in Italy, Japan, and Thailand.
In addition to Kobe, Joe and his wife Pam had two daughters, Sharia and Shaya.
