Joe Bryant, the father of the famous basketball player Kobe Bryant, has passed away at 69 years old, according to La Salle University’s sports department.
According to the La Salle University basketball coach Fran Dunphy, Joe recently had a stroke, as reported by The Philadelphia Inquirer. The specific reason for the death has not been confirmed yet.
La Universidad La Salle, donde Joe jugó y entrenó, expresó en un comunicado que "fue un miembro querido de la familia Explorer y será profundamente extrañado".
NBAE/Getty Images
Like his well-known son, Joe was also a famous basketball player. Chosen by the Golden State Warriors as the 14th pick in the 1975 NBA draft, he played for the Philadelphia 76ers for four seasons, the San Diego Clippers for three seasons, and the Houston Rockets for one season. He also performed in Europe.
The 76ers honored Joe, describing him as "a well-known basketball figure in the area, whose impact on the game went beyond his time at Bartram High School, La Salle University, and his initial four years playing for the 76ers from 1975 to 1979."
Joe's unexpected death happened four years after his son Kobe and granddaughter Gianna died tragically in a helicopter accident along with seven others.
The picture was taken by John W. McDonough for Sports Illustrated.
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