Photo: Stephen Dunn
Former NBA forward 'Jellybean' Joe Bryant, the father of late Basketball Hall of Famer Kobe Bryant, has died at the age of 69, the Philadelphia Inquirer reported on Tuesday (July 16).
Bryant, who played for the Philadelphia 76ers, then-San Diego Clippers, Houston Rockets and several international teams, recently suffered a massive stroke, according to Fran Dunphy, the head coach at his alma mater, La Salle University. The Philadelphia native averaged more than 20 points and 11 rebounds in two seasons at the school.
Bryant, who earned the nickname 'Jellybean' for his fondness of candy and innovative skillset, was selected by the Golden State Warriors at No. 14 overall in the 1975 NBA Draft before his draft rights were sold to the Sixers less than four months later. The Philadelphia native spent his first four seasons in his hometown, which included contributing off the bench during the team's 1976-77 season, which resulted in an NBA Finals loss to the Portland Trail Blazers.
The elder Bryant's death comes four and a half years after his son and granddaughter, Gigi, were killed in a helicopter crash along with seven others in January 2020. Kobe Bryant, who spent his entire career with the Los Angeles Lakers, was a five-time NBA champion, two-time NBA Finals MVP, an 18-time NBA All-Star, the 2008 NBA MVP and the fourth-leading scorer in NBA history.
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