From The Daily Mail
The world of basketball is in mourning after Joe Bryant, the father of Kobe Bryant, tragically died at the age of 69.
Bryant, a 6ft 10in forward, enjoyed a lengthy playing career which included spells with the 76ers, Clippers and Rockets.
His passing comes four and a half years after his son - then only 41 - and his granddaughter Gigi, 13, were among those killed in a helicopter crash.
He also worked as a coach for decades, joining teams in the United States, Japan and Thailand.
According to the Philadelphia Inquirer, Joe Bryant - nicknamed 'Jellybean' because of his sweet tooth - recently suffered a massive stroke.
Joe was selected by the Golden State Warriors in the first round of the 1975 NBA draft, only for the team to sell his rights to Philadelphia a few months later.
The forward enjoyed four seasons with his hometown team and helped the 76ers reach the NBA Finals in 1977.
Joe was selected by the Golden State Warriors in the first round of the 1975 NBA draft, only for the team to sell his rights to Philadelphia a few months later.
He later moved to Europe, playing for teams in both Italy and France. Bryant began his coaching career with the girls' basketball team at Akiba Hebrew Academy, a tiny school near Philadelphia.
He was soon back on the road, however, enjoying spells with teams in Las Vegas, Boston, Los Angeles, Tokyo and Bangkok.
According to the Inquirer, Joe's relationship with son Kobe became strained as the Lakers legend built a Hall of Fame career in the NBA.
14 comments:
Dad's gone, son's gone and Kobe didn't have any boys. Unfortunate end to what could've been a continuous legacy of the paternal Bryant name. RIP sir. I believe in the afterlife so maybe now he can rebuild his relationship without his son w/out interference.
* with his son without interference
If it wasn't for Kobe, no one would care about this man. What is his other legacy?
Everybody dying
RIP Mr. Bryant. I hope you and your son are together again. Now would be a great time for Vanessa and Kobe's mother to mend fences, while also rebuilding a relationship. Time is too short to be mad about the past or things you can no longer change.
Vanessa can't even get right with her own mama. She never had a fence to mend with Kobe's.
You have to be some kind of dumb if you don't know there would be no Kobe without this man!! Put some spec on his name foo!
RIP and condolences to his family.
@12:28pm You are an idiot. That's what you came up with to say. Moron!
Paragraphs 6 & 8 are the same.
12:31
So much for the ‘They go in 3’s!’ I feel you though. Every day is a like a hold your breath moment because we don’t know who’s next. As far as celebs and athletes, young and old.
I wouldn’t be surprised if his wife stressed him out. D@mn shame. Now he can rest in peace.
The wife has the two daughters, Kobe’s sisters to stress out now.
RIP
R.I.P. Unc. 60's Seem 2B Gettin' Called HOME. Time 2 Get ETERNALY CONSCIOUS My Babies.
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