Joe “Jellybean” Bryant, father of the late Basketball Hall of Famer Kobe Bryant, has passed away at 69, his alma mater La Salle University announced on Tuesday.
Bryant, who played eight seasons in the NBA with three different franchises, reportedly suffered a massive stroke, according to La Salle coach Fran Dunphy.
The school expressed their sorrow, noting Bryant’s contributions as a player from 1973-75 and as a coach from 1993-96.
Joe Bryant, selected 14th in the 1975 NBA draft by Golden State, played for the Philadelphia 76ers, San Diego Clippers, and Houston Rockets, averaging 8.7 points over 606 games.
His son, Kobe Bryant, along with Kobe’s daughter and seven others, tragically died in a helicopter crash in January 2020.
Click play to listen to the AURN News report from Clay Cane. Follow @claycane & @aurnonline for more.