His name was Joe Bryant, and he died at the age of 69.
A “massive stroke” was said to have happened to the former basketball star and coach not long ago.
Four and a half years ago, Joe Bryant’s son Kobe (41 years old at the time) and granddaughter Gigi (13 years old) died in a terrible helicopter crash.
Bryant played basketball for NBA teams like the 76ers, Clippers, and Rockets.
The 6’9″ forward was picked by the Golden State Warriors in the first round of the 1975 NBA Draft.
During his time in the NBA, he also played professionally in Europe, where he had the most success.
He was a coach for many years and was in charge of teams in the US, Japan, and Thailand, including the LA Sparks of the WNBA.
Bryant loved sweets and was affectionately called “Jellybean.”
There have already been a lot of tributes to the beloved character.
“We are saddened to announce the passing of La Salle basketball great Joe Bryant,” Bryant’s college team, La Salle University, wrote on X.
“Joe played for the Explorers from 1973 to 1975 and worked for us as a coach from 1993 to 1996.”
“He was a beloved member of the Explorer family and will be dearly missed.”
According to The Philadelphia Inquirer, Joe Bryant and his son Kobe had a close relationship when Kobe was a child. But after Kobe joined the LA Lakers, their relationship grew strained.
Bryant Sr. hadn’t said anything in public about Kobe’s death in 2020.
After a crash in Calabasas, California, in January 2020, Kobe, his daughter Gianna, and seven other people died.