The basketball world is mourning the loss of Joe Bryant, father of the late Kobe Bryant, who passed away at the age of 69. Bryant had a storied playing career, spanning multiple teams including the 76ers, Clippers, and Rockets.
According to the Philadelphia Inquirer, Joe Bryant recently suffered a massive stroke. He was selected by the Golden State Warriors in the 1975 NBA draft and played four seasons with the 76ers, helping the team reach the NBA Finals in 1977. He later played in Europe, coaching teams in the United States, Japan, and Thailand.
Bryant’s coaching career began with the girls’ basketball team at Akiba Hebrew Academy, and he went on to coach teams in Las Vegas, Boston, Los Angeles, Tokyo, and Bangkok. However, his relationship with his son Kobe became strained, with Kobe revealing in 2016 that they hadn’t spoken in almost three years after his parents attempted to auction off his high school memorabilia without consent.
Kobe and his daughter Gianna tragically passed away in a helicopter crash in January 2020, along with seven others. Joe Bryant’s passing comes four and a half years after the loss of his son and granddaughter.
