Former NBA player and WNBA head coach Joe "Jellybean" Bryant, father of the late Kobe Bryant, has died at 69, The Philadelphia Inquirer announced Tuesday. Bryant recently suffered a massive stroke, according to the newspaper. A Philadelphia native who starred there collegiately at La Salle, Bryant was a first-round pick (14th overall) by the Golden State Warriors in 1975 and was then sold to the Philadelphia 76ers. The 6-foot-9 forward averaged 8.7 points, 4.0 rebounds and 1.7 assists in 606 games over eight NBA seasons with the Sixers (1975-79), San Diego Clippers (1979-82) and Houston Rockets (1982-83). Bryant later played professionally in Italy (1983-91) and France (1991) before transitioning to coaching. He was the head coach of the WNBA's Los Angeles Sparks from 2005-06 and again in 2011, compiling a record of 40-24 with two playoff appearances. He also coached teams in Japan and Thailand until 2015. Joe Bryant, former NBA player and father of Kobe Bryant, has passed away at the age of 69, per @PhillyInquirer pic.twitter.com/shNzzUg9JO His son, Kobe Bryant, became a Hall of Fame player with the Los Angeles Lakers who died tragically in a helicopter crash on Jan. 26, 2020 at the age of 41. Joe Bryant's granddaughter, Gianna, 13, also died in the accident. --Field Level Media
Jan 26, 2021; Los Angeles, California, USA; Fans gather at a mural of Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna painted on the wall of Hardcore Fitness Bootcamp gym in downtown Los Angeles. Bryant and his daughter and seven other persons died in a helicopter crash in Calabasas, Calif. on Jan. 26, 2020. Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports