Joe Bryant, the father of the late NBA legend Kobe Bryant, has died at the age of 69. The former basketball star and coach reportedly suffered a massive stroke recently.
La Salle University, where Joe Bryant played and later served as an assistant coach from 1993 to 1996, confirmed the news on social media. La Salle head coach Fran Dunphy told The Philadelphia Inquirer that Bryant passed away after suffering a massive stroke.
“We are saddened to announce the passing of La Salle basketball great Joe Bryant,” read a statement posted on X. “Joe played for the Explorers from 1973-75 and was a member of our coaching staff from 1993-96. He was a beloved member of the Explorer family and will be dearly missed.”
Joe Bryant’s passing comes four and a half years after his son Kobe, aged 41, and granddaughter Gigi, aged 13, tragically died in a helicopter crash.
Joe Bryant played eight seasons in the NBA for the Philadelphia 76ers, San Diego Clippers, and Houston Rockets before moving overseas to play in Italy and France. The Bryant family returned to the U.S. when Kobe was 13, settling in the Philadelphia area where Kobe had his celebrated high school career at Lower Merion.
After his playing days, Joe transitioned into coaching, both internationally and domestically, including a one-year stint as head coach for the WNBA’s Los Angeles Sparks.
Joe and his wife Pam Bryant are also parents to two daughters, Sharia and Shaya.
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