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.
Pamela Anderson Reacts to Liam Neeson’s Romantic Confession—Is Love in the Air
Pamela Anderson has shared her thoughts on Liam Neeson’s recent praise for her, calling him “the perfect gentleman” to work with.
The two famous actors teamed up earlier this year to film a reboot of the classic cop comedy *The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad!*—a movie first released in 1988, originally starring Leslie Nielsen.
It didn’t take long for *Love Actually* star Liam Neeson to publicly praise Anderson, describing her as “terrific” to work with.
In the upcoming *The Naked Gun* reboot, expected in 2025, Liam Neeson steps into the role of Drebin Jr., likely playing the son of Frank Drebin from the 1988 classic. While Pamela Anderson’s character hasn’t been revealed yet, fans know she shares several scenes with Neeson. In a recent interview with *People*, Neeson opened up about filming with the *Baywatch* star.
Neeson, 72, even admitted, “I’m madly in love with Pamela Anderson.” He added, “She’s just terrific to work with. I can’t compliment her enough.” He praised her professionalism, noting she has “no huge ego,” shows up “just to do the work,” and is both “funny” and “easy to work with.” Neeson believes Anderson will be “terrific” in the film.
Anderson has since responded warmly to his praise, showing mutual respect and appreciation for Neeson as a colleague.
Pamela Anderson recently returned the compliments Liam Neeson shared, describing him as an actor who “brings out the best in you” with “respect, kindness, and depth of experience.” Anderson, 57, recalled how Neeson “sincerely looked after” her during filming, even wrapping his coat around her when she felt cold. She called him the “perfect gentleman” and said, “It was an absolute honor to work with him.”
Neeson, despite some doubts about doing a comedy, confessed he wasn’t entirely sure if he could “carry it.” Anderson quickly offered her support, describing him as “humble” and noting it was “hard to keep a straight face” when they were on set together.
The *Naked Gun* reboot is based on an original story by Seth MacFarlane, with a screenplay co-written by Akiva Schaffer, Dan Gregor, Doug Mand, Mark Hentemann, and Alec Sulkin. Directed by Schaffer and produced by MacFarlane and Erica Huggins, the film is set to be released by Paramount Pictures on August 1, 2025.
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