Joe “Jellybean” Bryant, the father of Hall of Famer Kobe Bryant and a former NBA player, has passed away at the age of sixty-nine.
As of Tuesday morning, the official cause of death has not been released. La Salle University, where Bryant played and later coached, issued a statement noting that he “was a beloved member of the Explorer family and will be greatly missed.”
Fran Dunphy, La Salle’s head coach and a long-time basketball coach in the Philadelphia area, shared with the Philadelphia Inquirer that Bryant had recently suffered a serious stroke.
Since the tragic loss of Kobe Bryant in a helicopter crash over four years ago, Joe had made few public appearances. In a 2010 ESPN interview, Kobe praised his father’s basketball knowledge, stating that Joe taught him “from an early age how to view the game, how to prepare for it, and how to execute.”
In January 2020, Kobe, his daughter Gianna, and seven others lost their lives in a helicopter accident while en route to a basketball event in Calabasas, California. Joe and Pam Bryant, who were married for nearly fifty years, attended the memorial service in Los Angeles a month later, despite having had a sometimes complicated relationship with Kobe.
Kobe’s widow, Vanessa Bryant, shared her condolences on Instagram, stating, “Sending our condolences upon hearing the news of my father-in-law’s passing. We hoped things would’ve been different. 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 20.8 points per game over two seasons. He went on to play professionally in the U.S. and internationally. Drafted by the Golden State Warriors in the first round of the 1975 NBA Draft, he was later acquired by the Philadelphia 76ers.
The 76ers released a statement honoring Joe Bryant’s legacy: “Joe ‘Jellybean’ Bryant was a local basketball icon whose impact on the court extended beyond his time at Bartram High School, La Salle University, and his initial four NBA seasons with the 76ers from 1975 to 1979. Our condolences go out to the Bryant family.”
Doug Young, a former teammate of Kobe, reflected on Joe as an outstanding “role model”: “Joe was our JV coach at Lower Merion, and I couldn’t have asked for a more positive mentor, teacher, and role model. He made basketball enjoyable and inspired us all to improve; he truly believed in us. I’ll always remember his infectious smile, his bear hugs, and the incredible bond he had with Kobe. Growing up in Lower Merion, there was no family we admired more than the Bryants, starting with Joe.”
Standing at 6-foot-9, Joe Bryant averaged 8.7 points and 4.0 rebounds over 606 career NBA games, playing for the Sixers, Clippers, and Rockets during his eight seasons. He was part of the 1976-77 Sixers team that lost to the Trail Blazers in the NBA Finals.
After over a decade playing overseas in France and Italy, Bryant began his coaching career in 1992. He held various coaching roles at both professional and collegiate levels in the United States, Japan, and Thailand, including a stint as head coach of the WNBA’s Los Angeles Sparks for parts of three seasons.
Arn Tellem, vice chairman of the Pistons and formerly Kobe Bryant’s agent, shared his condolences: “Joe ‘Jellybean’ Bryant was a true Philly hoops legend. Our friendship paved the way for me to represent Kobe as he entered the NBA, a memory I’ll always treasure. Joe was a devoted husband, father, and grandfather, whose warmth touched everyone he met.”
This story includes contributions from the Associated Press and ESPN’s Dave McMenamin.
