Joe Bryant, the former La Salle basketball standout, has passed away. Bryant played at the Philadelphia school from 1973 to 1975 and later coached the Explorers from 1993 to 1996. His professional playing career spanned from 1975 to 1983 with the NBA’s Philadelphia 76ers, San Diego Clippers, and Houston Rockets, before continuing in Europe.
In a statement, La Salle expressed their sorrow: “We are saddened to announce the passing of La Salle basketball great Joe Bryant. He was a beloved member of the Explorer family and will be dearly missed.”
Bryant, a forward, played in Italy from 1983 to 1991 before concluding his playing career with the French side Mulhouse in 1991. During his NBA career, he averaged 8.7 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 1.7 assists per game.
As a head coach, Bryant achieved a 40-24 record over parts of three seasons with the Women’s NBA Los Angeles Sparks. He also had coaching stints in Asia with clubs in Tokyo, Hokkaido, Bangkok, and Fukuoka.
Bryant’s son, Kobe Bryant, was born while Joe was playing for the 76ers. Kobe went on to become a five-time NBA champion, two-time Olympic gold medalist, and the 2008 NBA Most Valuable Player. He spent his entire NBA career from 1996 to 2016 with the Los Angeles Lakers, earning 18 All-Star selections. Kobe Bryant tragically died in a helicopter crash in 2020 at the age of 41.
