Another terrible loss for the Bryant family, sending prayers

Joe “Jellybean” Bryant, the father of the late Basketball Hall of Famer Kobe Bryant, has died at the age of 69, La Salle University’s athletics department reported.

Citing La Salle men’s head basketball coach Fran Dunphy, The Philadelphia Inquirer wrote Joe had recently suffered a stoke. The exact cause of death hasn’t been confirmed yet.

La Salle University, where Joe played and coached, said in a statement that he “was a beloved member of the Explorer family and will be dearly missed.”

Just like his famous son, Joe was a renowned basketball player himself.

Drafted by the Golden State Warriors as the 14th overall pick in the 1975 NBA draft, he played for the Philadelphia 76ers for four seasons, the then-San Diego Clippers for three seasons, and the Houston Rockets for one season. He also played in Europe.

The 76ers paid tribute to Joe, calling him “a local 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.”

Joe’s sudden passing comes four years after the tragic death of his son Kobe and his granddaughter Gianna, who were killed in a helicopter crash with seven other people.

Kobe’s widow, Vanessa Bryant, wrote on her Instagram story on Tuesday, “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.”

Former Kobe teammate Doug Young praised Joe as the ideal “role model.”

“Joe was our JV coach at Lower Merion and I could not have asked for a more positive mentor, teacher, and role model,” Young told ESPN.

“It’s difficult to overstate how much he influenced me and my teammates. He made basketball fun and made us all want to be better; he believed in us.

I’ll never forget his infectious smile, his bear hugs and the incredible bond he shared with Kobe. Growing up in Lower Merion, there was no family we loved and admired more than the Bryants, and that started with Joe.”

Arn Tellem, the vice chairman of the Pistons and formerly Kobe Bryant’s agent, expressed his sadness over the loss of Joe and joined the basketball community in mourning a true Philly hoops legend.

“Our friendship opened the door for me to represent Kobe as he entered the NBA, a memory I’ll always cherish. Joe was a devoted husband, father and grandfather, whose warmth touched everyone he met.”

May he rest in peace.

Please SHARE this article with your family and friends on Facebook.

Related Posts

The Hidden Detail In The Wendy’s Logo

I’ll be honest – I really enjoy a good fast food meal.While I don’t make it a regular habit to stop at a drive-thru,there’s something comforting about…

Michael Jackson’s only daughter Paris proud of African-American roots, identifies as black

Paris Jackson, the only daughter of the late pop music icon Michael Jackson, recently shared that despite being mixed race, she identifies as a black woman. Saying…

Prayers For Carol Burnett – Sad To Announce That…

Carol Burnett, turning 90 in April 2023, has enjoyed a career filled with remarkable achievements. “The Carol Burnett Show,” a groundbreaking comedy variety series on CBS, was…

The Hilarious Tale of Paddy, Murphy, and the Lightbulb!

Paddy & Murphy are working on a building site. Paddy says to Murphy, “I’m gonna have the day off, I’m gonna pretend I’m mad.” He climbs up…

Adam Schiff Has Mental Breakdown on Live Tv

Adam Schiff Has Mental Breakdown on Live Tv California Democrat Senator-elect Adam Schiff is doubling down on his false, unfounded claims of Trump-Russian collusion years later. In an…

These 13 Sisters From The Same Convent All Passed Away At The Same Time

A shocking incident happened at a convent in Michigan that claimed the lives of thirteen sisters. The cause of their death was identified to be the Corona-virus….

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *