Joe “Jellybean” Bryant, the father of the late Basketball Hall of Famer Kobe Bryant, has died at the age of 69, La Salle University’s athletics department reported.
Citing La Salle men’s head basketball coach Fran Dunphy, The Philadelphia Inquirer wrote Joe had recently suffered a stoke. The exact cause of death hasn’t been confirmed yet.
La Salle University, where Joe played and coached, said in a statement that he “was a beloved member of the Explorer family and will be dearly missed.”
Just like his famous son, Joe was a renowned basketball player himself. Drafted by the Golden State Warriors as the 14th overall pick in the 1975 NBA draft, he played for the Philadelphia 76ers for four seasons, the then-San Diego Clippers for three seasons, and the Houston Rockets for one season. He also played in Europe.
The 76ers paid tribute to Joe, calling him “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.”
Joe’s sudden passing comes four years after the tragic death of his son Kobe and his granddaughter Gianna, who were killed in a helicopter crash with seven other people.
Kobe’s widow, Vanessa Bryant, wrote on her Instagram story on Tuesday, “Sending our condolences upon hearing the news of my father-in-law’s passing.
“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.”
Former Kobe teammate Doug Young praised Joe as the ideal “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 made us all want 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, the vice chairman of the Pistons and formerly Kobe Bryant’s agent, expressed his sadness over the loss of Joe and joined the basketball community in mourning a true Philly 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.
11-year-old dies because of online trend – now family is warning others about the household item that took his life
Youngsters frequently lack awareness of the consequences of adopting trends they see online, including the fact that they may pose a serious risk to health.
Due to something that happened to their young kid, this family is suffering through the most terrible catastrophe. They are now alerting others about this. Continue reading to learn more.
The family of an 11-year-old child who died as a result of a horribly dangerous social media trend is in mourning. In order to prevent anyone else from becoming a victim of the same thing, the family now wishes to warn others and encourage parents to speak with their kids.
A concerning pattern among youths on TikTok resulted in the demise of Tommie-Lee Billington, an 11-year-old from Lancaster, England.
This comes after, according to The Sun, two adolescent females perished while taking part in the same “challenge” on the app.
It all began on Saturday while 11-year-old Tommie was spending the night at a friend’s house. Then, after viewing a challenge on the TikTok app, the guys “huffed.”
This entails breathing in hazardous gasses or intoxicating chemicals. Spray deodorant, glue, and dry shampoo are a few examples.
Tommie’s heart stopped instantly when he and his companion chose to follow the TikTok fad. The hospital team said he passed away immediately. The family is currently grieving the 11-year-old’s untimely death.
His mother Sherry has advised other parents to have a conversation with their kids and to get them off of TikTok. She posted an appeal on Facebook, saying, “My son lost his life because he tried something that other youngsters were doing. Please discuss the repercussions of this with your kids. I don’t see why someone would even attempt this! It’s really risky!
“I’ve never experienced such agony.” My tornado. I adore you so much, my friend. My little boy. I shall cherish you always in my heart. She posts on her Facebook page, “I promise to do everything in my power to ensure that your name and beautiful face become the reason that other children’s lives will be saved and other families don’t have to suffer this deep, deep hurt.”
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