Joe “Jellybean” Bryant Passes Away

*Photo credit: NBA Entertainment, Getty Images

Joe Bryant has passed away. The father of Kobe was 69 years old.

“Jellybean” attended La Salle University, playing for the Explorers from 1973-1975. At La Salle, he averaged 20.3 points and 11.1 rebounds.

At 6 foot, 9 inch forward, Bryant was the 14th overall selection by the Golden State Warriors in the 1975 NBA Draft. He played for the Philadelphia 76ers from 1975-1979, the San Diego Clippers from 1979-1982, and spent one final season in the NBA, 1982-1983, with the Houston Rockets. He averaged 8.7 points and 4.0 rebounds in 606 career NBA games.

Bryant then played in Italy from 1983-1991, Kobe learning the game of basketball there. He spent the 1991 season in France before retiring from basketball and enjoying a long coaching career from 1992-2015. He was an assistant coach at his alma mater La Salle from 1993-1996, and coached the WNBA’s Los Angeles Sparks from 2005-2007 and again in 2011. His final coaching stop was the Rizing Zephyr Fukuoka of the Japanese B.League in 2014-2015.

Bryant married Pam Cox in 1975 and the pair had two daughters, named Sharia and Shaya, in addition to Kobe. He was the brother-in-law of 1978 Chicago Bulls’ draft choice John “Chubby” Cox III.

Rest In Peace, Joe Bryant.