Joe Bryant, the daddy of NBA legend Kobe Bryant, has died.
La Salle head coach Fran Dunphy informed Mike Sielski of the Philadelphia Inquirer on Tuesday that Bryant had recently suffered a massive stroke. He was 69.
Like his late son, Joe Bryant loved a profitable skilled basketball profession. He was drafted by the Golden State Warriors within the first spherical in 1975. The Warriors offered Bryant’s rights to his hometown Philadelphia 76ers 4 months later, and Bryant spent 4 seasons in Philly. The previous La Salle star additionally performed for the San Diego Clippers and Houston Rockets throughout eight NBA seasons.
Following his NBA profession, Bryant loved nice success enjoying professionally in Europe. The elder Bryant performed principally in Italy, the place Kobe spent a good portion of his childhood earlier than the household moved again to Philadelphia.
Joe additionally spent a number of years as a coach after he retired from enjoying. He coached the WNBA’s Los Angeles Sparks from 2005-2007.
Joe and Kobe’s mom, Pam, had an advanced relationship with the Los Angeles Lakers star all through the years. A few of Kobe’s points together with his mother and father stemmed from his resolution to marry his spouse, Vanessa, at such a younger age. The Corridor of Famer reconciled together with his mother and father after the delivery of his first daughter, Natalia, however the three went through a public feud in 2013 over some memorabilia.
There have been indications that Kobe had become closer with his parents within the years main as much as Kobe’s demise.
Kobe, his 13-year-old daughter, Gianna, and 7 different folks died in a helicopter crash in January 2020.
Along with Kobe, Joe and Pam Bryant shared two different kids collectively: Kobe’s older sisters, Sharia and Shaya.
