Joe “Jellybean” Bryant, the father of NBA icon Kobe Bryant and a former NBA player himself, has passed away at the age of 69. La Salle University, where Bryant both played and coached, described him as a cherished member of the Explorer family, and he will be deeply missed.
Fran Dunphy, La Salle’s head coach, noted that Bryant had recently suffered a severe stroke.Following the tragic helicopter crash that claimed Kobe Bryant’s life in January 2020, Joe Bryant had been less visible in the public eye.
Kobe had once praised his father’s basketball knowledge, crediting Joe with teaching him how to understand, prepare for, and execute the game from a young age.
Joe Bryant was a standout player at La Salle University, where he averaged 20.8 points per game.
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