Joe “Jellybean” Bryant, the father of the late Basketball Hall of Famer Kobe Bryant, has passed away at 69, as reported by La Salle University’s athletics department.
According to La Salle men’s head basketball coach Fran Dunphy, The Philadelphia Inquirer noted that Joe had recently suffered a stroke, although the exact cause of death has not been confirmed.
La Salle University, where Joe both played and coached, released a statement saying he “was a beloved member of the Explorer family and will be dearly missed.”
Joe was an accomplished basketball player in his own right, having been drafted as the 14th overall pick by the Golden State Warriors in the 1975 NBA draft. He played four seasons with the Philadelphia 76ers, three seasons with the San Diego Clippers, and one season with the Houston Rockets, in addition to his time playing in Europe.
The 76ers honored Joe as “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.”
His sudden passing comes four years after the tragic deaths of his son Kobe and granddaughter Gianna, who were killed in a helicopter crash alongside seven others.
Kobe’s widow, Vanessa Bryant, shared her condolences on Instagram, saying, “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.”
Doug Young, a former teammate of Kobe, praised Joe as the perfect 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 inspired us all 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, vice chairman of the Pistons and formerly Kobe’s agent, expressed his sorrow over Joe’s passing and joined the basketball community in mourning a true Philadelphia 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.
Woman Helps Single Dad at Store, Sees Bracelet She Buried with Her Child on His Daughter
Linette’s routine trip to the grocery store took a shocking turn when she saw a young girl wearing a silver bracelet she had buried with her daughter five years ago. The discovery unearthed painful memories and led Linette to confront a dark chapter of her past.
While helping a struggling father in the cereal aisle, Linette noticed the bracelet on his daughter’s wrist. Her heart stopped as she recognized it immediately. “It was the same bracelet I had buried with Emily,” Linette realized in disbelief.
Haunted by the sight, Linette uncovered a scandal involving the funeral home director, Harold Simmons, who had been fired for mishandling services and allegedly selling funeral mementos, including her daughter’s bracelet.
Determined to seek justice, Linette reached out to Bob Daniels, the father she met in the grocery store. He was sympathetic, apologizing for what she had gone through and offering to help. “It wasn’t just about the bracelet but about seeking justice for the betrayal of trust,” Bob explained.
Together, they built a case against the funeral home. The court ruled in their favor, bringing Linette a sense of peace. In the end, what started as a painful discovery became a path to healing and a new beginning, with Linette finding hope in the bond she formed with Bob and his daughter, Emma.
Leave a Reply