<p>Former <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/tags/nba">NBA</a> player and WNBA head coach Joe "Jellybean" Bryant, father of the late <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/tags/kobe-bryant">Kobe Bryant</a>, has died at 69, <em>The Philadelphia Inquirer</em> announced Tuesday.</p><p>Bryant recently suffered a massive stroke, according to the newspaper.</p>.Gareth Southgate steps down as England coach after Euro defeat.<p>A Philadelphia native who starred there collegiately at La Salle, Bryant was a first-round pick (14th overall) by the Golden State Warriors in 1975 and was then sold to the Philadelphia 76ers.</p><p>The 6-foot-9 forward averaged 8.7 points, 4.0 rebounds and 1.7 assists in 606 games over eight NBA seasons with the Sixers (1975-79), San Diego Clippers (1979-82) and Houston Rockets (1982-83).</p><p>Bryant later played professionally in Italy (1983-91) and France (1991) before transitioning to coaching. He was the head coach of the WNBA's Los Angeles Sparks from 2005-06 and again in 2011, compiling a record of 40-24 with two playoff appearances. He also coached teams in Japan and Thailand until 2015.</p><p>His son, Kobe Bryant, became a Hall of Fame player with the Los Angeles Lakers who died tragically in a helicopter crash on Jan. 26, 2020 at the age of 41. Joe Bryant's granddaughter, Gianna, 13, also died in the accident.</p>
<p>Former <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/tags/nba">NBA</a> player and WNBA head coach Joe "Jellybean" Bryant, father of the late <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/tags/kobe-bryant">Kobe Bryant</a>, has died at 69, <em>The Philadelphia Inquirer</em> announced Tuesday.</p><p>Bryant recently suffered a massive stroke, according to the newspaper.</p>.Gareth Southgate steps down as England coach after Euro defeat.<p>A Philadelphia native who starred there collegiately at La Salle, Bryant was a first-round pick (14th overall) by the Golden State Warriors in 1975 and was then sold to the Philadelphia 76ers.</p><p>The 6-foot-9 forward averaged 8.7 points, 4.0 rebounds and 1.7 assists in 606 games over eight NBA seasons with the Sixers (1975-79), San Diego Clippers (1979-82) and Houston Rockets (1982-83).</p><p>Bryant later played professionally in Italy (1983-91) and France (1991) before transitioning to coaching. He was the head coach of the WNBA's Los Angeles Sparks from 2005-06 and again in 2011, compiling a record of 40-24 with two playoff appearances. He also coached teams in Japan and Thailand until 2015.</p><p>His son, Kobe Bryant, became a Hall of Fame player with the Los Angeles Lakers who died tragically in a helicopter crash on Jan. 26, 2020 at the age of 41. Joe Bryant's granddaughter, Gianna, 13, also died in the accident.</p>