Joe 'Jellybean' Bryant, father of Kobe, dies aged 69

A Philadelphia native, Bryant excelled in college at La Salle before being drafted in the first round (14th overall) by the Golden State Warriors in 1975. He was later traded to the Philadelphia 76ers.

Standing at 6-foot-9, Bryant played as a forward and 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).

The Sixers paid tribute to Bryant, describing him as a local basketball legend whose impact on the sport extended from his high school days at Bartram High School to his time at La Salle University and his initial four seasons with the 76ers.

Following his NBA career, Bryant played professionally in Italy (1983-91) and France (1991) before transitioning to coaching. He served as the head coach of the Los Angeles Sparks in the WNBA from 2005-06 and 2011, achieving a 40-24 record with two playoff appearances. Bryant also coached teams in Japan and Thailand until 2015.

His son, Kobe Bryant, a Hall of Fame player for the Los Angeles Lakers, tragically passed away in a helicopter crash on Jan. 26, 2020, at the age of 41. Joe Bryant's granddaughter, Gianna, also lost her life in the same accident at the age of 13.