- Joe Bryant played in the NBA and in Europe
- Kobe credited father for his growth as a player
Joe “Jellybean” Bryant, the father of the late Kobe Bryant, has died at the age of 69.
Like his son, Bryant was selected in the first round of the NBA draft. He played in the NBA for eight seasons with spells at the Philadelphia 76ers, San Diego Clippers and Houston Rockets. He then played in Europe for 10 years, mostly in Italy. He averaged 8.7 points and 4.0 rebounds during his NBA career, and helped the 76ers to the 1977 NBA finals, where they lost to the Portland Trail Blazers.
