Joe Bryant

{{Short description|American basketball head coach and player (1954–2024)}}

{{Infobox basketball biography

| name = Joe Bryant

| image = Joe Bryant 2010.jpg

| caption = Bryant coaching Levanga Hokkaido in 2010

| birth_date = {{birth date|1954|10|19}}

| birth_place = Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.

| death_date = {{death date and age|2024|7|15|1954|10|19}}

| height_ft = 6

| height_in = 9

| weight_lb = 185

| high_school = John Bartram
(Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)

| college = La Salle (1973–1975)

| draft_year = 1975

| draft_round = 1

| draft_pick = 14

| draft_team = Golden State Warriors

| career_start = 1975

| career_end = 1991

| career_position = Power forward / small forward

| career_number = 23, 22

| coach_start = 1992

| coach_end = 2015

| years1 = {{nbay|1975|start}}–{{nbay|1978|end}}

| team1 = Philadelphia 76ers

| years2 = {{nbay|1979|start}}–{{nbay|1981|end}}

| team2 = San Diego Clippers

| years3 = {{nbay|1982|full=y}}

| team3 = Houston Rockets

| years4 = 1983–1986

| team4 = AMG Sebastiani Rieti

| years5 = 1986–1987

| team5 = Standa Reggio Calabria

| years6 = 1987–1989

| team6 = Olimpia Pistoia

| years7 = 1989–1991

| team7 = Reggiana

| years8 = 1991–1992

| team8 = Mulhouse

| cyears1 = 1992–1993

| cteam1 = Akiba Hebrew Academy

| cyears2 = 1993–1996

| cteam2 = La Salle (assistant)

| cyears3 = 2003–2004

| cteam3 = Las Vegas Rattlers

| cyears4 = 2004–2005

| cteam4 = Boston Frenzy

| cyears5 = 2005–2007

| cteam5 = Los Angeles Sparks

| cyears6 = 2007–2009

| cteam6 = Tokyo Apache

| cyears7 = 2010–2011

| cteam7 = Levanga Hokkaido

| cyears8 = 2011

| cteam8 = Los Angeles Sparks

| cyears9 = 2012

| cteam9 = Bangkok Cobras

| cyears10 = 2013

| cteam10 = Chang Thailand Slammers

| cyears11 = 2014–2015

| cteam11 = Rizing Fukuoka

| stats_league = NBA

| stat1label = Points

| stat1value = 5,252 (8.7 ppg)

| stat2label = Rebounds

| stat2value = 2,441 (4.0 rpg)

| stat3label = Assists

| stat3value = 1,049 (1.7 apg)

}}

Joseph Washington "Jellybean" Bryant (October 19, 1954 – July 15, 2024) was an American professional basketball player and coach. He played for the Philadelphia 76ers, San Diego Clippers, and Houston Rockets of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He also played for several teams in Italy and one in France. Bryant was the head coach of the WNBA's Los Angeles Sparks from 2005 to 2007{{cite web|title=ESPN.com – WNBA – Bryant out, Cooper Back in as Sparks Coach |url=https://www.espn.com/espn/wire?section=wnba&id=2825551 |publisher=ESPN}} and returned to that position for the remainder of the 2011 WNBA season. Bryant also coached in Japan and Thailand. His son, basketball player Kobe Bryant, was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame.

Professional career

= Philadelphia 76ers (1975–1979) =

After starring at La Salle University, he was drafted by the Golden State Warriors but traded to his hometown team, the Philadelphia 76ers, where he played for four seasons. In his second season, on the 1976–77 76ers, he played alongside NBA all-stars Julius Erving, Doug Collins, and George McGinnis. The team reached the 1977 NBA Finals, eventually losing to the Portland Trail Blazers, 4 games to 2.{{cite web |url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/PHI/1977.html |title=1976-77 Philadelphia 76ers Roster and Stats|website=Basketball Reference|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|accessdate=19 July 2024}}

= San Diego Clippers (1979–1982) =

Before the 1979–1980 season, the Sixers traded Bryant to the San Diego Clippers,Bryant was traded for what eventually turned out to be the first pick in the 1986 NBA draft, although prior to the draft the 76ers traded the pick to the Cleveland Cavaliers, who selected Brad Daugherty. where he spent three seasons. In the first game of the 1979–1980 season, played at home against the Los Angeles Lakers, Bryant memorably had a slam dunk over center Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

= Houston Rockets (1982–1983)=

Following the 1981 season, Bryant was traded to the Houston Rockets, where he played one season, his last in the NBA.

=Europe (1983–1992)=

Bryant played overseas in Italy and France from 1982 to 1992, playing for Italian teams Sebastiani Rieti, Standa Reggio Calabria, Olimpia Pistoia, and Reggiana and French team Mulhouse. He ended his playing career in 1992.{{cite web|url=https://www.yahoo.com/news/kobe-bryant-dad-joe-dies-150446135.html|title=Kobe Bryant's dad Joe dies aged 69|work=Yahoo! News|date=July 16, 2024|first=Andrea|last= Cavallier}}

Coaching career

= Akiba Hebrew Academy (1992–1993) =

Bryant's first coaching position, after returning from Europe, was when he was deployed with the U.S. Armed Forces in Italy. In the 1992–1993 season, he served as the head coach of the women's varsity team at Akiba Hebrew Academy in Lower Merion, Pennsylvania.{{cite news | url=http://www.forward.com/articles/6418/ | title=Coach Bryant? Akiba Once Led by Kobe's Dad | publisher=The Forward | work=The Forward | date=February 27, 2004 | access-date=March 24, 2009 | last=Charry | first=Rob}}

= La Salle Explorers (1993–1996) =

In June 1993, he left Akiba and accepted an assistant coach position at his alma mater, La Salle University.{{cite news | title=Bryant Returns to LaSalle as Assistant | publisher=Philadelphia Daily News | work=Philadelphia Daily News | date=June 24, 1993 }} On May 7, 1996, Bryant resigned from La Salle after his son Kobe announced his intentions to enter the NBA out of high school.{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1996/05/08/sports/sports-people-basketball-bryant-quits-la-salle-job.html|title=Bryant Quits La Salle Job|work=The New York Times|agency=Associated Press|date=May 8, 1996|access-date=August 22, 2020}}

= SlamBall and ABA coach (2003–2005) =

Bryant served as coach for the Diablos during the 2003{{cite web|url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/nba/lakers-magic-johnson-devastated-after-death-of-kobe-bryant-s-father/ar-BB1q6EY7|title=Lakers' Magic Johnson 'devastated' after death of Kobe Bryant's father|date=July 16, 2024|access-date=July 17, 2024|website=ClutchPoints}} season of SlamBall.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/nba/lakers-news-joe-jellybean-bryant-father-of-kobe-passes-away-at-age-69/ar-BB1q5spV|title=Lakers News: Joe 'Jellybean' Bryant, Father of Kobe, Passes Away at Age 69|date=July 16, 2024|access-date=July 17, 2024|magazine=Sports Illustrated}}

From 2003 to 2005, Bryant also coached two ABA teams, the Las Vegas Rattlers and the Boston Frenzy.{{cite web|url=https://www.newsweek.com/sports/nba/joe-jellybean-bryant-longtime-nba-vet-father-kobe-bryant-dead-69-1925907|title=Joe 'Jellybean' Bryant, Longtime NBA Vet and Father to Kobe Bryant, Dead at 69|work=Newsweek|first=Alex|last= Kirschenbaum |date=July 16, 2024}}

= Los Angeles Sparks (2005–2007, 2011) =

On August 17, 2005, Bryant, who was an assistant coach for the WNBA team Los Angeles Sparks, was named the head coach, succeeding previous coach (and former 76ers teammate) Henry Bibby.{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/wnba/news/story?id=2136773|title=Bibby finishes 13–15 in short stint as Sparks coach|work=ESPN|date=August 17, 2005|accessdate=July 17, 2024}} During the 2006 season, he led the Sparks to a 25–9 record and a Conference Finals berth. In April 2007, Bryant was replaced as Sparks head coach by Michael Cooper, who had previously helmed the team in 1999–2004.

In 2011, Bryant returned to the Sparks, first as an assistant coach, but later as the head coach for the rest of the 2011 season.{{cite web|url=https://lasentinel.net/joe-bryant-elevated-to-head-coach-of-the-sparks.html|title=Joe Bryant elevated to head coach of the Sparks|work=Los Angeles Sentinel|date=July 14, 2011|accessdate=July 17, 2024}}{{cite web|url=https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/joe-bryant-dies-at-69-kobe-bryants-father-starred-at-la-salle-played-eight-nba-seasons-before-coaching/|title= Joe Bryant dies at 69: Kobe Bryant's father starred at La Salle, played eight NBA seasons before coaching |work=CBS Sports|date=July 16, 2024|first=James|last=Herbert}}

= International coaching career (2007–2015) =

Bryant coached the Tokyo Apache of the Japanese bj league from 2007 to 2009.{{cite web|url=https://as.com/baloncesto/2015/02/17/nba/1424200835_424035.html|title=Joe Bryant, padre de Kobe, se busca la vida en Japón|work=Diario AS|date=February 18, 2015|accessdate=July 17, 2024|language=es|author=Mario García Martín}}

On July 3, 2009, Bryant signed a contract with Italian club Sebastiani Rieti, whom he had played for.{{cite news | url=http://varesebasket.sport-blog.it/?p=674 | title=Joe Bryant nuovo coach di Rieti | publisher=Sport Blog | date=July 3, 2009 | access-date=July 4, 2009 | last=Maffioli | first=Luca | language=it | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100927101912/http://varesebasket.sport-blog.it/?p=674 | archive-date=September 27, 2010 }} However, the contract fell through, due to the team's move to Naples.

Bryant served as the head coach of Japanese professional basketball team Levanga Hokkaido during the 2010–2011 JBL season.

In January 2012, Bryant was hired as coach of the Bangkok Cobras in the ASEAN Basketball League (ABL). He coached for the 2012 season.[http://www.tempo.com.ph/2012/bangkok-team-hires-kobes-dad/#.Tx5GdG-m9Bk Bangkok team hires Kobe’s dad] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120113034904/http://www.tempo.com.ph/2012/bangkok-team-hires-kobes-dad/ |date=January 13, 2012 }} Bryant also coached for the Chang Thailand Slammers in 2013.

Bryant coached Rizing Fukuoka of the bj League from 2014 to 2015.[http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2015/07/24/basketball/bj-league/bryant-rizing-fukuoka-coach/#.VlxqxHYrLIV Bryant out as Rizing Fukuoka coach]

Career playing statistics

=NBA=

Source{{cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/b/bryanjo01.html|title=Joe Bryant NBA stats|website=Basketball Reference|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|accessdate=19 July 2024}}

==Regular season==

|style="text-align:left;"| {{nbay|1975}}

|style="text-align:left;"| Philadelphia

| 75 || 3 || 16.0 || .422 || || .626 || 3.7 || .8 || .6 || .3 || 7.4

|style="text-align:left;"| {{nbay|1976}}

|style="text-align:left;"| Philadelphia

| 61 || 0 || 10.0 || .446 || || .757 || 1.9 || .8 || .6 || .2 || 4.4

|style="text-align:left;"| {{nbay|1977}}

|style="text-align:left;"| Philadelphia

| 81 || 0 || 15.3 || .436 || || .771 || 3.5 || 1.6 || .7 || .3 || 6.1

|style="text-align:left;"| {{nbay|1978}}

|style="text-align:left;"| Philadelphia

| 70 || 0 || 15.2 || .429 || || .724 || 3.7 || 1.5 || .7 || .1 || 7.6

|style="text-align:left;"| {{nbay|1979}}

|style="text-align:left;"| San Diego

| 81 || || 28.7 || .431 || .147 || .742 || 6.4 || 1.8 || 1.3 || .5 || 9.3

|style="text-align:left;"| {{nbay|1980}}

|style="text-align:left;"| San Diego

| 82 || || 28.8 || .479 || .133 || .791 || 5.4 || 2.3 || .9 || .4 || 11.6

|style="text-align:left;"| {{nbay|1981}}

|style="text-align:left;"| San Diego

| 75 || 49 || 26.5 || .486 || .267 || .785 || 3.7 || 2.5 || 1.0 || .4 || 11.8

|style="text-align:left;"| {{nbay|1982}}

|style="text-align:left;"| Houston

| 81 || 56 || 25.4 || .448 || .222 || .703 || 3.4 || 2.3 || 1.0 || .4 || 10.0

|- class="sortbottom"

|style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"|Career

| 606 || 108 || 21.2 || .450 || .200 || .743 || 4.0 || 1.7 || .9 || .3 || 8.7

==Playoffs==

Year ! Team ! GP ! MPG ! FG% ! FT% ! RPG ! APG ! SPG ! BPG ! PPG
class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size:95%; text-align:right;"
style="text-align:left;"\| 1976 \| style="text-align:left;"\| Philadelphia \| 3	14.3	.750	.714	4.3	.3	.3	.3	7.7
style="text-align:left;"\| 1977 \| style="text-align:left;"\| Philadelphia \| 10	7.4	.387	.625	1.5	.7	.6	.2	2.9
style="text-align:left;"\| 1978 \| style="text-align:left;"\| Philadelphia \| 10	12.2	.447	.727	2.5	.9	.6	.1	5.0
style="text-align:left;"\| 1979 \| style="text-align:left;"\| Philadelphia \| 7	5.0	.385	.500	.1	.6	.1	.0	3.0
class="sortbottom" \|style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"\|Career \| 30	9.1	.448	.679	1.8	.7	.5	.1	4.1

Head coaching record

=WNBA=

| style="text-align:left;"|Los Angeles

| style="text-align:left;"|2005

| 6||4||2||{{winning percentage|4|2}}|| style="text-align:center;"|4th in Western|||2||0||2||{{winning percentage|0|2}}

| style="text-align:center;"|Lost Conference Semifinals

| style="text-align:left;"|Los Angeles

| style="text-align:left;"|2006

| 34||25||9||{{winning percentage|25|9}}|| style="text-align:center;"|1st in Western|||5||2||3||{{winning percentage|2|3}}

| style="text-align:center;"|Lost Conference Finals

| style="text-align:left;"|Los Angeles

| style="text-align:left;"|2011

| 24||11||13||{{winning percentage|11|13}}|| style="text-align:center;"|5th in Western|||–||–||–||{{Winning percentage|-|-}}

| style="text-align:center;"|–

|-class="sortbottom"

| style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"|Career

| 64 || 40 || 24 ||{{winning percentage|40|24}}|| || 7 || 2 || 5 ||{{winning percentage|2|5}}

Source:{{cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/wnba/coaches/bryanjo99w.html|title= Joe Bryant WNBA Coaching Record|work=basketball-reference|accessdate=July 17, 2024}}

=Japan=

| style="text-align:left;"|Tokyo Apache

| style="text-align:left;"|2005–2006

| 40||20||20||{{Winning percentage|20|20}}|| style="text-align:center;"|3rd|||–||–||–||{{Winning percentage|-|-}}

| style="text-align:center;"|Lost semifinals

| style="text-align:left;"|Tokyo Apache

| style="text-align:left;"|2006–2007

| 40||12||28||{{Winning percentage|12|28}}|| style="text-align:center;"|8th|||–||–||–||{{Winning percentage|-|-}}

| style="text-align:center;"|–

| style="text-align:left;"|Tokyo Apache

| style="text-align:left;"|2008–2009

| 52||33||19||{{Winning percentage|33|19}}|| style="text-align:center;"|2nd in Eastern|||4||3||1||{{Winning percentage|3|1}}

| style="text-align:center;"|Runners-up

| style="text-align:left;"|Rera Kamuy Hokkaido

| style="text-align:left;"|2010–2011

| 22||6||16||{{Winning percentage|6|16}}|| style="text-align:center;"|Fired|||–||–||–||{{Winning percentage|-|-}}

| style="text-align:center;"|–

| style="text-align:left;"|Rizing Fukuoka

| style="text-align:left;"|2014–2015

| 32||9||23||{{Winning percentage|9|23}}|| style="text-align:center;"|9th in Western|||–||–||–||{{Winning percentage|-|-}}

| style="text-align:center;"|–

Source:[https://basketball.eurobasket.com/coach/Joe-Bryant/301 Joe Bryant basketball profile]

Personal life and death

In 1975, Bryant married Pam Cox, sister of former NBA player John "Chubby" Cox III.{{cite web|last1=Stevens|first1=Eric|title=Talent Runs in the Family|url=http://articles.latimes.com/2005/mar/04/sports/sp-wccmen4|website=Los Angeles Times|date=March 4, 2005|accessdate=July 16, 2024}} Their son Kobe, also an NBA player, was subsequently inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame. Kobe died in a helicopter crash on January 26, 2020, alongside his 13-year-old daughter (Joe's granddaughter) Gianna.{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-01-26/aircraft-slams-into-hillside-explodes-in-flames-near-calabasas|title=Kobe Bryant is killed in helicopter crash in Calabasas|author1=Winton, Richard|first2=Dan|last2=Woike|work=Los Angeles Times|date=January 26, 2020|access-date=January 26, 2020}} Bryant also had two daughters, Sharia and Shaya. The family is Catholic.{{Cite web |last=Gleeson |first=Scott |title=Kobe Bryant, 'man of faith,' attended Mass with his family morning of helicopter crash |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nba/lakers/2020/02/03/kobe-bryant-attended-mass-family-morning-crash/4646895002/ |access-date=July 16, 2024 |website=USA TODAY |language=en-US}} Through his wife Pam, he was the uncle of professional basketball player John Cox IV.

Bryant died on July 15, 2024{{Cite web |title=Philly hoops great Joe Bryant, father of NBA legend Kobe, has died |url=https://www.inquirer.com/sixers/jo-bryant-jellybean-sixers-kobe-died-sixers-lasalle-20240716.html |website=www.inquirer.com |date=2024-07-16 |access-date=2024-07-23 |language=en |first=Mike |last=Sielski}} at the age of 69.{{Cite magazine |last1=Jennings |first1=Danielle |last2=Mazziotta |first2=Julie |date=July 16, 2024 |title=Joe Bryant, Father of NBA Icon Kobe Bryant, Dies at 69 After Stroke |url=https://people.com/kobe-bryant-father-joe-bryant-dead-at-69-8678587 |access-date=July 16, 2024 |magazine=People}} While no official cause of death was announced,{{Cite web |date=July 16, 2024 |title='Jellybean' Bryant, father of Kobe, dies at age 69 |url=https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/40574936/joe-jellybean-bryant-father-kobe-bryant-dies-age-69 |access-date=July 16, 2024 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}} The Philadelphia Inquirer reported that Bryant had recently suffered a major stroke.{{Cite news |last=Sielski |first=Mike |date=July 16, 2024 |title=Philly hoops great Joe Bryant, father of NBA legend Kobe, has died |url=https://www.inquirer.com/sixers/jo-bryant-jellybean-sixers-kobe-died-sixers-lasalle-20240716.html |access-date=July 16, 2024 |work=The Philadelphia Inquirer}}

References

External links

[https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/b/bryanjo01.html Joe Bryant at Basketball-Reference.com]
[https://web.archive.org/web/20060428115037/http://www.wnba.com/coachfile/joe_bryant/index.html?nav=page Joe Bryant WNBA Coach Profile]
[http://195.56.77.208/player/pbd.phtml?ply=BRY-JOE-54&from=1980&team=562&type2=t&name_search=Bryant Joe Bryant statistics in Italian Championship] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930040916/http://195.56.77.208/player/pbd.phtml?ply=BRY-JOE-54&from=1980&team=562&type2=t&name_search=Bryant |date=September 30, 2007 }}

Category:1954 births

Category:2024 deaths

Category:20th-century Roman Catholics

Category:21st-century Roman Catholics

Category:African-American basketball coaches

Category:African-American Catholics

Category:American Roman Catholics

Category:American Basketball Association (2000–present) coaches

Category:American expatriate basketball people in France

Category:American expatriate basketball people in Italy

Category:American expatriate basketball people in Japan

Category:American expatriate basketball people in Thailand