Joe “Jellybean” Bryant, the father of the late Basketball Hall of Famer Kobe Bryant, has passed away at 69, as reported by La Salle University’s athletics department.
According to La Salle men’s head basketball coach Fran Dunphy, The Philadelphia Inquirer noted that Joe had recently suffered a stroke, although the exact cause of death has not been confirmed.
La Salle University, where Joe both played and coached, released a statement saying he “was a beloved member of the Explorer family and will be dearly missed.”
Joe was an accomplished basketball player in his own right, having been drafted as the 14th overall pick by the Golden State Warriors in the 1975 NBA draft. He played four seasons with the Philadelphia 76ers, three seasons with the San Diego Clippers, and one season with the Houston Rockets, in addition to his time playing in Europe.
The 76ers honored Joe as “a local basketball 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.”
His sudden passing comes four years after the tragic deaths of his son Kobe and granddaughter Gianna, who were killed in a helicopter crash alongside seven others.
Kobe’s widow, Vanessa Bryant, shared her condolences on Instagram, saying, “We hoped things would’ve been different. Although the times we spent together were few, he was always sweet and nice to be around. Kobe loved him very much.”
Doug Young, a former teammate of Kobe, praised Joe as the perfect role model. “Joe was our JV coach at Lower Merion, and I could not have asked for a more positive mentor, teacher, and role model,” Young told ESPN. “It’s difficult to overstate how much he influenced me and my teammates. He made basketball fun and inspired us all to be better; he believed in us. I’ll never forget his infectious smile, his bear hugs, and the incredible bond he shared with Kobe. Growing up in Lower Merion, there was no family we loved and admired more than the Bryants, and that started with Joe.”
Arn Tellem, vice chairman of the Pistons and formerly Kobe’s agent, expressed his sorrow over Joe’s passing and joined the basketball community in mourning a true Philadelphia hoops legend. “Our friendship opened the door for me to represent Kobe as he entered the NBA, a memory I’ll always cherish. Joe was a devoted husband, father, and grandfather, whose warmth touched everyone he met.”
May he rest in peace.
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«Wonderful act by dad!» The man’s body was covered with tattoos, but he removed them for the sake of his daughter
«From a monster to a handsome man!»The man’s point of view changed dramatically when a daughter was born into the his familyHe removed tattoos, see the result here
Famous Australian blogger Ethan Modboy Bramble surprised his fans when he covered his entire body with tattoos. The 24-year-old is impossible to miss due to the fact that 95% of his body is covered in tattoos, he has a cut tongue, cropped ears, black eyelids, flared nostrils, a sewn-in belly button and black eyeballs.
When we look at this man, it immediately seems to us that he will not stop doing plastic surgery to make changes to his body. But fortunately, he changed his mind when his daughter was born into his family.–Advertisment–
After the birth of his baby, he made a serious decision to do everything to bring his body as close as possible to its natural appearance. Despite the fact that all the experiments were expensive and caused him pain, he still decided to remove the tattoos.
Now a famous blogger undergoes procedures to look like a normal person. Every day brighter spots appear on his body. The young father showed what he looked like before and now.
What do you think about a caring father? Share your views in the comments section.
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