Joe Bryant, popularly known as Jellybean Bryant, passed away on July 16, 2024. “We are saddened to announce the passing of La Salle basketball great Joe Bryant,” said a statement by La Salle University.
He played there from 1973 to 1975 and was on the coaching staff from 1993 to 1996. They added, “He was a beloved member of the Explorer family and will be dearly missed.”
Joe Bryant played in eight NBA seasons with the Philadelphia 76ers, the San Diego Clippers, and the Houston Rockets from 1975 to 1983.
The Sixers described him as an “icon, whose legacy on the court transcended his journey across Bartram High School, La Salle University, and his first four NBA seasons with the 76ers from 1975-79.”
“Our condolences go out to the Bryant family,” the team added.
The official cause of Joe Bryant’s death is not announced as of Tuesday morning. Fran Dunphy, who is a long-time Philadelphia area basketball coach and the current head coach at La Salle, told the Philadelphia Inquirer that Bryant recently suffered a massive stroke.
Joe Bryant is rarely seen in public after Kobe Bryant’s tragic helicopter crash over four years ago. The former Lakers superstar once described Joe as “a great basketball mind” in a 2010 ESPN interview, and credited him with teaching Kobe early on how to understand, prepare for, and execute the game of basketball.
Why was Joe Bryant called Jellybean?
A teammate at John Bartram High School in Philadelphia nicknamed Bryant “Jellybean” due to his impressive array of moves despite being 6 feet 9. “Must be jelly because jam don’t shake like that,” Bryant recalled, quoting the classic World War II-era song by Glenn Miller.
The nickname stayed as Bryant loved to eat jellybeans. Soon after, he became a star. He was the High School Public League Player of the Year in 1972. After that, he remained in Philadelphia to attend La Salle, averaging 20.3 points and 11.1 rebounds per game during his two seasons.
Personal Life And Achievements
Bryant served as a great coach for several years. He coached the Los Angeles Sparks (2005–2006) during the WNBA, the Philippine National Team (2007–2010) in the FIBA Asia Championships, the Birmingham Bullets (2001–2002) during the British Basketball League, and the Baskonia (2011–2012) in the Spanish League. He also had various coaching roles in youth and high school basketball throughout his career.
In 1975, Bryant got married to Pam Cox, sister of NBA player Chubby Cox. Their son, Kobe, was also an NBA player who was subsequently inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame. Bryant also had two daughters, Sharia and Shaya. The family is Catholic.
He played through 1992 in Italy and France, not returning to Philadelphia until Kobe was about to begin high school. Bryant served as head coach of the girls’ team at Akiba Hebrew Academy in 1992-93 before moving to La Salle as an assistant for the duration of Kobe’s career at Lower Merion High.
“I’m devastated to hear about the loss of my friend Joe “Jellybean” Bryant, the father of Kobe Bryant,” Magic Johnson wrote on X. “Joe was not only a talented basketball player; he was also a great coach.
He added, “Joe was an exceptional human being with a radiant smile that had the power to brighten any room, and a great husband and father. Cookie and I are praying for his wife Pam, daughters Sharia and Shaya, and the rest of the Bryant family, friends, and all those who loved Joe.”
