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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Kevin Costner, 69, Drops Bombshell: Prince William’s Shocking Diana Revelation!
When actor Kevin Costner found out that Prince William wanted to meet him, he didn’t hesitate at all.
Reports say their meeting happened a few years ago, but details were kept secret until now. Kevin Costner, a famous actor who became a Hollywood heartthrob in the 1990s with movies like Dances With Wolves and The Bodyguard, recently shared a surprising story involving Prince William and his late mother, Princess Diana.
Curious to know more? Keep reading…
It’s hard to believe Kevin Costner is now 69 years old. He’s known for his successful career in movies and still has a strong reputation. However, even with his busy schedule, he made time to meet Prince William.
In a recent interview with People Magazine, Costner talked about this special meeting.
According to the interview, Kevin Costner, known for his role in Yellowstone, was in the UK when he heard that Prince William wanted to meet him.
“I was in England when I got the message that the prince wanted to talk to me. I was like, ‘What?’… and then I said, ‘Okay,’” Costner told People Magazine.
“We met in a room, just the two of us. He came up to me, we shook hands… The first thing he said was, ‘You know, my mom had a bit of a crush on you.’”
Afterwards, as reported by Caras, they talked for about thirty minutes. Costner didn’t share everything from their private conversation but said his meeting with Prince William was “nice.”
Years before, there were rumors that Costner and Princess Diana were considering a sequel to the popular movie The Bodyguard from 1992.
“It was something that was moving forward quietly because that’s how I work,” Costner said. He mentioned that Sarah Ferguson introduced him to Princess Diana.
“It was so sweet. Sarah was the one that set this up. Sarah was very cool… when she could have been going, ‘Well, I’m a princess too. What about me?’ She didn’t do that at all. Diana and I began to talk.”
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