Officials announced on Tuesday the passing of longtime professional basketball player Joe “Jellybean” Bryant, whose lengthy career in Europe had a significant impact on his Hall of Fame son, Kobe.
He was sixty-nine.
Joe Bryant played basketball at La Salle University from 1973 to 1975 and served as head coach from 1993 to 1996. “We are saddened to announce the passing of La Salle basketball great Joe Bryant,” the school said in a statement. “He was a beloved member of the Explorer family and will be dearly missed.”
From 1975 to 1983, Joe Bryant participated in eight NBA seasons with the Houston Rockets, San Diego Clippers, and Philadelphia 76ers.
According to the Sixers, Bryant is a Philly basketball “icon, whose legacy on the court transcended his journey across Bartram High School, La Salle University, and his first four NBA seasons with the 76ers from 1975-79.”
The team said, “Our thoughts and prayers are with the Bryant family.”
Following his departure from the NBA, Bryant played for eight seasons for French and Italian professional clubs.
Born in 1978, Kobe Bryant spent a significant portion of his early years in Italy, where he picked up various languages and developed a fondness for Italian culture.
In recognition of his father’s nickname, Kobe Bryant took on the middle name Bean and went on to become the fourth-highest scorer in NBA history. He is regarded as one of the best players of all time.
On January 26, 2020, Kobe Bryant, 41, lost his life in a helicopter accident outside of Los Angeles. Gianna, his daughter, and seven other individuals also perished.
When he was inducted into the Hall of Fame after his death, Vanessa Bryant, his wife, called out her in-laws.
“I invited my mother- and father-in-law to tonight’s enshrinement to thank them for bringing one of the most amazing human beings into this world,” she said. “Pam and Joe, thank you for raising Kobe to be exceptional.”
With a heartfelt message on Instagram on Tuesday, 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,” she said. “Kobe cherished him much. We are praying for the family.
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