La Salle expresses sorrow over the loss of former men's basketball standout Joe Bryant

 La Salle University Athletics mourns the passing of Joe "Jellybean" Bryant, a beloved men's basketball legend who passed away on Monday morning. Bryant, father of NBA Hall of Famer Kobe Bryant who passed away in 2020, made a significant impact during his time at La Salle from 1973 to 1975. He was a pivotal member of the 1975 East Coast Conference Championship team that secured an NCAA Tournament berth for the Explorers.

John Cox, assistant coach of La Salle men's basketball and Bryant's nephew, expressed deep sorrow, stating, "I am devastated by the sudden loss of my uncle. He was a basketball icon in Philadelphia, and someone I deeply admired. His legacy at La Salle and in the Philly basketball community will endure for generations."

Bryant earned First Team All-Big 5 honors in 1974 and 1975 and played a crucial role in La Salle's impressive 22-7 season in 1975, which included a Sugar Bowl Classic Championship where he was named MVP. He led the team to a No. 7 ranking in the Associated Press Top 25 Poll, marking La Salle's first NCAA Tournament appearance since 1968. Bryant holds impressive career records at La Salle, ranking 7th in rebounding average (11.9), 9th in scoring average (20.7), and 10th in career field goal percentage (48.6).

During his two seasons with the Explorers, the 6-9 forward scored 1,188 points and received NABC All-District honors in 1974 and 1975. Bryant was selected 14th overall by the Golden State Warriors in the 1975 NBA Draft and later played for the Philadelphia 76ers and the San Diego Clippers. His NBA career spanned eight years, with a final season in the league with the Houston Rockets, where he averaged 8.7 points and 4.0 rebounds over 606 games. Bryant also played professionally overseas in France and Italy before transitioning into coaching.

Bryant's coaching career included roles as an assistant coach at La Salle from 1993 to 1996 and two stints as head coach of the WNBA's Los Angeles Sparks. In 1981, he was inducted into the Big 5 Hall of Fame, cementing his legacy as one of Philadelphia's basketball greats.....See More