Joe Bryant
American basketball head coach and retired player
Joseph Washington "Jellybean" Bryant (October 19, 1954 – July 16, 2024) was an American retired professional basketball player, coach, and the father of the former Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant.
![]() Bryant coaching Levanga Hokkaido in 2010 | |
Personal information | |
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Born | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. | October 19, 1954
Died | July 16, 2024 | (aged 69)
Listed height | 206 cm (6 ft 9 in) |
Listed weight | 84 kg (185 lb) |
Career information | |
High school | John Bartram (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) |
College | La Salle (1973–1975) |
NBA draft | 1975 / Round: 1 / Pick: 14th overall |
Selected by the Golden State Warriors | |
Playing career | 1975–1992 |
Position | Power forward / Center |
Number | 23, 22 |
Coaching career | 2003–present |
Career history | |
As player: | |
1975–1979 | Philadelphia 76ers |
1979–1982 | San Diego Clippers |
1982–1983 | Houston Rockets |
1984–1986 | AMG Sebastiani Rieti |
1986–1987 | Standa Reggio Calabria |
1987–1989 | Olimpia Pistoia |
1989–1991 | Reggiana |
1991–1992 | FC Mulhouse Basket |
As coach: | |
2003–2004 | Las Vegas Rattlers |
2004–2005 | Boston Frenzy |
2006–2007 | Los Angeles Sparks |
2007–2009 | Tokyo Apache |
2010–2011 | Levanga Hokkaido |
2011 | Los Angeles Sparks |
2012 | Bangkok Cobras |
2013 | Chang Thailand Slammers |
2015 | Rizing Fukuoka |
Career NBA and Serie A statistics | |
Points | 12,584 (14.8 ppg) |
Rebounds | 4,012 (4.7 rpg) |
Assists | 1,595 (1.9 apg) |
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com | |
Bryant was the head coach of the WNBA's Los Angeles Sparks from August 22, 2005, until April 4, 2007.[1] He returned to that position for the remainder of the 2011 WNBA season after Jennifer Gillom was fired by the Los Angeles Sparks on July 10, 2011.
Bryant also coached in Italy, Japan and Thailand.
Bryant died on July 16, 2024 from a massive stroke at the age of 69.[2]