Joe ‘Jellybean’ Bryant, Former NBA Player and Father of Kobe Bryant, Passes Away at 69
Joe “Jellybean” Bryant, a former NBA player and the father of Hall of Famer Kobe Bryant, has passed away at the age of 69.
La Salle University, where Bryant both played and later coached, shared the news with deep sorrow, describing him as a “beloved member of the Explorer family” who will be greatly missed.
Fran Dunphy, La Salle’s head coach and a longtime figure in Philadelphia basketball, told the Philadelphia Inquirer that Bryant had recently suffered a severe stroke.
In recent years, Bryant had largely remained out of the public eye. His son, Kobe, tragically passed away in a helicopter accident in January 2020. In a 2010 interview with ESPN, Kobe credited his father for shaping his basketball knowledge, saying Joe had taught him “how to view the game, how to prepare for the game, and how to execute” from an early age.
Joe and his wife, Pam, who were married for nearly 50 years, attended Kobe’s memorial service in Los Angeles. Despite having a complicated relationship at times, their bond remained an important part of the Bryant family’s legacy.
Kobe’s widow, Vanessa Bryant, shared her condolences on social media, 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.”
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