Joe “Jellybean” Bryant, the father of Hall of Famer Kobe Bryant and a former NBA player himself, has passed away at the age of sixty-nine.
As of Tuesday morning, the official cause of Joe Bryant’s death has not been revealed. La Salle University, where he both played and coached, released a heartfelt statement saying he “was a beloved member of the Explorer family and will be dearly missed.”
Fran Dunphy, the head coach of La Salle and a prominent basketball figure from the Philadelphia area, disclosed to the Philadelphia Inquirer that Joe Bryant had recently experienced a severe stroke. This revelation highlights the challenging circumstances that preceded his passing.
Since the tragic passing of his son, Kobe Bryant, in a helicopter accident over four years ago, Joe Bryant made few public appearances. In a 2010 interview with ESPN, the legendary Los Angeles Lakers player praised his father, saying Joe possessed “a great basketball mind.” Kobe credited Joe with teaching him “from an early age how to view the game, how to prepare for it, and how to execute.”
In January 2020, a tragic helicopter crash in Calabasas, California, claimed the lives of Kobe Bryant, his daughter Gianna, and seven others while they were en route to a basketball event. About a month after the devastating loss of Kobe and Gianna, Joe and Pam Bryant, who had been married for nearly fifty years, attended the memorial service in Los Angeles, sitting in the front row despite their occasionally strained relationship with Kobe.
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On Tuesday, Vanessa Bryant, Kobe’s widow, shared her condolences on Instagram, stating, “Sending our condolences upon hearing the news of my father-in-law’s passing.” She expressed a heartfelt wish that circumstances could have been different, adding, “Although the times we spent together were few, he was always sweet and nice to be around. Kobe loved him very much.”
Joe Bryant was a standout player at La Salle University, averaging an impressive 20.8 points per game during his two seasons with the Explorers. He went on to have a professional career both in the United States and internationally. Selected in the first round of the 1975 NBA Draft by the Golden State Warriors, he ultimately joined the Philadelphia 76ers, where he continued to make his mark in the league.
The Philadelphia 76ers released a statement honoring Joe “Jellybean” Bryant, calling him a local basketball icon whose legacy on the court extended beyond his remarkable journey through Bartram High School, La Salle University, and his first four NBA seasons with the 76ers from 1975 to 1979. They expressed their heartfelt condolences to the Bryant family during this difficult time.
Former teammate Doug Young praised Joe Bryant, describing him as the ideal “role model.” His impact on those around him left a lasting impression, both on and off the court.
“Joe was our JV coach at Lower Merion, and I couldn’t have asked for a more positive mentor, teacher, and role model,” Young told ESPN. “It’s hard to overstate how much he influenced me and my teammates. He made basketball fun and inspired us all to improve; he truly believed in us. I’ll never forget his infectious smile, his bear hugs, and the incredible bond he shared with Kobe. Growing up in Lower Merion, there was no family we loved and admired more than the Bryants, and that all began with Joe.”
The 6-foot-9 Joe Bryant averaged 8.7 points and 4.0 rebounds over his 606 career games, playing for the Philadelphia 76ers, Los Angeles Clippers, and Houston Rockets during his eight seasons in the NBA. He was part of the 1976-77 Sixers team that reached the NBA Finals but fell to the Trail Blazers.
In 1992, Joe Bryant transitioned into coaching after spending more than a decade playing professionally abroad in France and Italy. Throughout his coaching career, he held various roles at the professional and collegiate levels in the United States, Japan, and Thailand. Notably, he also served as the head coach of the WNBA’s Los Angeles Sparks for parts of three seasons.
Arn Tellem, the vice chairman of the Pistons and former agent of Kobe Bryant, shared his deep sorrow over the passing of Joe “Jellybean” Bryant, joining the basketball community in mourning a true Philadelphia hoops legend. “Our friendship opened the door for me to represent Kobe as he entered the NBA, a memory I’ll always cherish,” Tellem said. “Joe was a devoted husband, father, and grandfather, whose warmth touched everyone he met.”
This story was contributed to by the Associated Press and ESPN’s Dave McMenamin.