Another Terrible Loss For The Bryant Family, Sending Prayers
Joe “Jellybean” Bryant, father of Kobe Bryant and a former NBA player, has passed away at the age of 69. While no…
Since Kobe’s tragic death in a helicopter crash four years ago, Joe Bryant had largely stayed out of the public eye. In a 2010 interview, Kobe praised his father’s deep basketball knowledge, saying, “He taught me how to view the game, how to prepare for the game, and how to execute.”
Joe Bryant was a standout player at La Salle University and enjoyed a professional career in the NBA and overseas. The Philadelphia 76ers honored him as a “local basketball icon.” Doug Young, a former teammate of Kobe, remembered Joe as an exceptional role model. Over 606 NBA games, Joe averaged 8.7 points and 4.0 rebounds.
Following his playing career, he transitioned into coaching, working in the U.S., Japan, and Thailand, and even serving as head coach for the WNBA’s Los Angeles Sparks. Arn Tellem, Kobe’s former agent, referred to Joe as a “true Philly hoops legend.”
