Joe Bryant, Kobe Bryant’s dad, dead at 69

Former NBA player Joe Bryant, the father of the late Kobe Bryant, has died, according to The Philadelphia Inquirer.

He was 69.

The elder Bryant — nicknamed “Jellybean” during his playing days — suffered a massive stroke recently, LaSalle head coach Fran Dunphy told the Inquirer Tuesday.

Bryant, a 6-foot-9 forward, played for the Explorers from 1973-75 and was a member of the LaSalle coaching staff from 1993-96.

“We are saddened to announce the passing of La Salle basketball great Joe Bryant,” the LaSalle men’s basketball team said in a post on X.

Bryant’s death comes more than four years after his son and his granddaughter, Gigi Bryant, died in a horrific helicopter crash in California on Jan. 26, 2020.

The father and son were said to be close during Kobe’s early days playing basketball at Lower Merion High School.

Their relationship reportedly became strained during Kobe’s Hall of Fame career with the Lakers, during which he won five NBA championships and was a two-time NBA Finals MVP and the 2008 NBA MVP.

Kobe also had a strained relationship with his mother, Pamela, in his adult life.

In the days following the fatal helicopter crash, The Sun reported how Kobe was trying to reconcile with both of his parents before his death.

The elder Bryant was a first-round pick (14th overall) by the Warriors in the 1975 draft.

However, he never played for Golden State as the franchise sold his draft rights to his hometown Philadelphia 76ers less than four months later.

Bryant went on to play eight NBA seasons for the 76ers, the then-San Diego Clippers and the Rockets, averaging 8.7 points and four rebounds in 606 career games.

He then took his talents overseas, having played for several teams in Italy and France — and coached teams in Japan and Thailand.