It is with great sadness that we mourn the passing of Joe Bryant, father of NBA legend Kobe Bryant. Joe Bryant, a former professional basketball player himself, passed away at the age of 69. His legacy both on and off the court will forever be remembered.
Joe Bryant's influence on his son Kobe's basketball career cannot be understated. He instilled in Kobe a strong work ethic, determination, and passion for the game that propelled him to become one of the greatest players in NBA history. Joe's guidance and support played a crucial role in shaping Kobe's career from a young age.
Kobe Bryant, his daughter Gianna and seven others died in a helicopter crash in January 2020 in Calabasas, California, as the group was making its way to a basketball tournament.
Joe Bryant was the No. 14 pick by Golden State in the 1975 draft, and the Warriors wound up selling his rights to Philadelphia before the start of his rookie season. He played four years for the 76ers, three for the San Diego Clippers and one for the Houston Rockets, averaging 8.7 points in 606 games.
After Bryant left the NBA, he spent the next eight seasons playing for professional teams in France and Italy.
Kobe Bryant, born in 1978, spent much of his childhood in Italy, where he learned multiple languages and grew fond of Italian culture.
Kobe Bryant — whose middle name is Bean, in honor of his father's nickname — went on to become the fourth-leading scorer in NBA history and is widely considered one of the game's greatest players.
Joe Bryant had a number of coaching stints, including for teams in Italy, Japan and Thailand, as well as stints with the WNBA’s Los Angeles Sparks — meaning he was coaching in the same city as his son was playing for a number of years.
In just two seasons with the Explorers, the 6-9 forward scored 1,188 points. He twice earned National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) All-District honors, in 1974 on the Third Team and in 1975 with First Team recognition. Bryant was drafted 14th overall by the Golden State Warriors in the 1975 National Basketball Association (NBA) Draft before being acquired by his hometown Philadelphia 76ers later that year. Bryant played eight years in the NBA, spending four with the Sixers from 1975-79, and three with the San Diego Clippers (1979-82). His last season in the league was spent with the Houston Rockets before spending nine years overseas playing professionally in France and Italy. He averaged 8.7 points and 4.0 rebounds in 606 career NBA games.
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