Joe and Kobe Bryant. PHOTO: JOHN W. MCDONOUGH/GETTY
July 16, 2024
Joe ‘Jellybean’ Bryant, father of basketball legend Kobe, dead at 69
Joe “Jellybean” Bryant, the father of late Los Angeles Lakers legend Kobe Bryant, has died at the age of 69, according to US media reports.
Joe Bryant reportedly had recently suffered a massive stroke.
A former professional basketball player like his famous son, the elder Bryant played eight seasons in the NBA, representing his hometown team Philadelphia 76ers, the San Diego Clippers and Houston Rockets while averaging 8.7 points and four rebounds in 606 career games.
He then played for several teams in Italy and France, and also coached teams in Japan and Thailand.
His death comes more than four years after his son Kobe and granddaughter Gigi were killed in a helicopter crash in California on January 26, 2020.
