Father of Kobe Bryant and himself a former NBA star, Joe Bryant died Tuesday at the age of 69. LaSalle University coach Fran Dunphy announced the news to The InquirerNicknamed “Jellybean,” Joe Bryant died of a stroke.
A versatile player with an athletic profile, a reliable mid-range shot, and capable of playing 3 and 4, Joe “Jellybean” Bryant had a great eight-year career as a role player in the NBA. A first-round draft pick by the Warriors in 1975, he was traded to the Sixers, where he would be in the front row to follow Julius Irving's rise to the Sixers from 1976 to 1979, with an NBA Finals appearance.
Passed through Mulhouse in the early 90s!
Then, he joined the ranks of the San Diego Clippers where he benefited from more playing time for three seasons (up to 11.8 points per game in 1981-1982). His NBA adventure would end the following year at the Rockets, at the end of the worst season in the history of the Texan franchise (14 wins for 68 losses).
At the dawn of his 30th birthday, he left for Italy where Kobe would perform his first dribbles, finally extending the pleasure during a final season in France, at Mulhouse in 1991.
Kobe Bryant's father then coached until 2015 with experiences in Japan, Thailand and in the WNBA with the Los Angeles Sparks for three seasons.
Photo credit: DR
