Joe Bryant
Encyclopedia
Joseph Washington "Jellybean" Bryant (born October 19, 1954) is a retired American
professional basketball
player, current coach, and the father of Los Angeles Lakers
star Kobe Bryant
. Bryant was the head coach of the WNBA
's Los Angeles Sparks
from August 22, 2005 until April 4, 2007. He returned to that position after Jennifer Gillom
was fired by the Los Angeles Sparks
on July 10, 2011.
, Bryant, a 6'9" (2.07 m) forward, was drafted in the first round by the Golden State Warriors
in 1975
. Before the season started, though, he was dealt to his hometown team, the Philadelphia 76ers
, with whom he played for four seasons. Bryant headed back to the West Coast when he was traded by the 76ers to the San Diego Clippers
, for whom he played from 1980-82.
After a final NBA
season with the Houston Rockets
in 1983, Bryant headed to Europe, playing seven seasons in Italy with clubs of the Italian A1 League
and the Italian A2 League
. He played with the Italian clubs Sebastiani Rieti (1984–86), Reggio Calabria
(1986–87), Pistoia (1987–89) and Reggio Emilia
(1989–91). He twice had 53-point games with Pistoia in the 1987-88 season.
Bryant continued to play into his fifties, appearing in several games for the Boston Frenzy
of the fledgling American Basketball Association.
in Lower Merion, Pennsylvania. In June 1993, Bryant left Akiba and accepted an assistant coach position at his alma-mater, LaSalle University.
On August 22, 2005, Bryant, who had been serving as the assistant coach to the Los Angeles Sparks
team in the Women's National Basketball Association
, was named Head Coach of the Sparks, succeeding previous coach (and former 76ers
teammate) Henry Bibby
. During the 2006 season, he led the Sparks to a 25-9 record and a Conference Finals berth. However, in April 2007, Bryant was replaced as Sparks head coach by Michael Cooper, who had previously helmed the team in 1999-2004.
Bryant spent the 2007-08 season coaching the Tokyo Apache in Japan's professional basketball league the Japanese BJ League
.
On July 3, 2009 he signed a contract with his first Italian club, Sebastiani Rieti
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
player, current coach, and the father of Los Angeles Lakers
Los Angeles Lakers
The Los Angeles Lakers are an American professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
star Kobe Bryant
Kobe Bryant
Kobe Bean Bryant is an American professional basketball player who plays shooting guard for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association . Bryant enjoyed a successful high school basketball career at Lower Merion High School, where he was recognized as the top high school...
. Bryant was the head coach of the WNBA
Women's National Basketball Association
The Women's National Basketball Association is a women's professional basketball league in the United States. It currently is composed of twelve teams. The league was founded on April 24, 1996 as the women's counterpart to the National Basketball Association...
's Los Angeles Sparks
Los Angeles Sparks
The Los Angeles Sparks is a professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California, playing in the Western Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded before the league's inaugural 1997 season began...
from August 22, 2005 until April 4, 2007. He returned to that position after Jennifer Gillom
Jennifer Gillom
Jennifer "Grandmama" Gillom is a former WNBA basketball player who played for the Phoenix Mercury from 1997 to 2002...
was fired by the Los Angeles Sparks
Los Angeles Sparks
The Los Angeles Sparks is a professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California, playing in the Western Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded before the league's inaugural 1997 season began...
on July 10, 2011.
Pro career
After starring at La Salle UniversityLa Salle Explorers men's basketball
The La Salle Explorers Men's Basketball Team is the college basketball program representing La Salle University.-History:The program has been rated the 53rd "Greatest College Basketball Program of All-Time" by Street & Smith's magazine and 71st by the ESPN College Basketball Encyclopedia.La Salle...
, Bryant, a 6'9" (2.07 m) forward, was drafted in the first round by the Golden State Warriors
Golden State Warriors
The Golden State Warriors are an American professional basketball team based in Oakland, California. They are part of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
in 1975
1975 NBA Draft
The 1975 NBA Draft was the 29th annual draft of the National Basketball Association . The draft was held on May 29, 1975 before the 1975–76 season. In this draft, 18 NBA teams took turns selecting amateur U.S. college basketball players and other eligible players, including international players...
. Before the season started, though, he was dealt to his hometown team, the Philadelphia 76ers
Philadelphia 76ers
The Philadelphia 76ers are a professional basketball team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association . Originally known as the Syracuse Nationals, they are one of the oldest franchises in the NBA...
, with whom he played for four seasons. Bryant headed back to the West Coast when he was traded by the 76ers to the San Diego Clippers
Los Angeles Clippers
The Los Angeles Clippers are a professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California, United States. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association...
, for whom he played from 1980-82.
After a final NBA
National Basketball Association
The National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
season with the Houston Rockets
Houston Rockets
The Houston Rockets are an American professional basketball team based in Houston, Texas. The team plays in the Southwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was established in 1967, and played in San Diego, California for four years, before being...
in 1983, Bryant headed to Europe, playing seven seasons in Italy with clubs of the Italian A1 League
Serie A (basketball)
Lega Basket Serie A is the highest level club competition in Italian professional basketball where play determines the national champion. The season consists of a home-and-away schedule of 30 games, followed by an eight-team playoff round. Quarterfinals and semifinals series are best-of-five, and...
and the Italian A2 League
LegADue
Legadue or Lega2 is the second-highest division of professional club basketball in Italy since 2001-2002 season...
. He played with the Italian clubs Sebastiani Rieti (1984–86), Reggio Calabria
Viola Reggio Calabria
Viola Reggio Calabria is the name traditionally given to the main men's professional basketball team from the city Reggio Calabria, Italy. The team colors are black and orange....
(1986–87), Pistoia (1987–89) and Reggio Emilia
Pallacanestro Reggiana
Pallacanestro Reggiana is an Italian basketball team based in Reggio Emilia, also known for sponsorship reasons as Trenkwalder Reggio Emilia....
(1989–91). He twice had 53-point games with Pistoia in the 1987-88 season.
Bryant continued to play into his fifties, appearing in several games for the Boston Frenzy
Cape Cod Frenzy
The Cape Cod Frenzy is an American Basketball Association team based in Cape Cod, Massachusetts that played from 2004 to 2006 as the Boston Frenzy. They finished the 2005 season with a 5-15 record and did not make the playoffs. They finished in 9th place in the blue division. They completed...
of the fledgling American Basketball Association.
Coaching career
Bryant's first coaching position after returning from Europe was in 1992-1993 as the head coach of the women's varsity team at Akiba Hebrew AcademyAkiba Hebrew Academy
Jack M. Barrack Hebrew Academy is a pluralistic Jewish Day School for grades 6 to 12 located in Radnor, Pennsylvania. It was founded in Center City Philadelphia in 1946 as Akiba Hebrew Academy and changed its name in 2007. Barrack Hebrew Academy's enrollment was 318 students during the 2007-2008...
in Lower Merion, Pennsylvania. In June 1993, Bryant left Akiba and accepted an assistant coach position at his alma-mater, LaSalle University.
On August 22, 2005, Bryant, who had been serving as the assistant coach to the Los Angeles Sparks
Los Angeles Sparks
The Los Angeles Sparks is a professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California, playing in the Western Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded before the league's inaugural 1997 season began...
team in the Women's National Basketball Association
Women's National Basketball Association
The Women's National Basketball Association is a women's professional basketball league in the United States. It currently is composed of twelve teams. The league was founded on April 24, 1996 as the women's counterpart to the National Basketball Association...
, was named Head Coach of the Sparks, succeeding previous coach (and former 76ers
Philadelphia 76ers
The Philadelphia 76ers are a professional basketball team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association . Originally known as the Syracuse Nationals, they are one of the oldest franchises in the NBA...
teammate) Henry Bibby
Henry Bibby
Charles Henry Bibby is a former professional basketball player who became a coach after his playing days were over.- Playing career :...
. During the 2006 season, he led the Sparks to a 25-9 record and a Conference Finals berth. However, in April 2007, Bryant was replaced as Sparks head coach by Michael Cooper, who had previously helmed the team in 1999-2004.
Bryant spent the 2007-08 season coaching the Tokyo Apache in Japan's professional basketball league the Japanese BJ League
Bj league
The bj league is a professional basketball league in Japan that began on November 5, 2005. The ten team league is divided into two conferences, the Eastern Conference, and the Western Conference. It had its inaugural All-Star game in 2006. One of its major sponsors is Spalding.The bj league...
.
On July 3, 2009 he signed a contract with his first Italian club, Sebastiani Rieti
Nuova AMG Sebastiani Basket Rieti
Nuova AMG Sebastiani Basket was a basketball team, founded in Rieti in 1998. In the 2009, last year of activity, the club moved the administrative headquarters and arena to Naples...
.
Personal life
- Joe Bryant is married to Pam Cox, sister of former NBA player Chubby CoxChubby CoxJohn Arthur "Chubby" Cox III , is a retired American professional basketball player.A 6'2" guard, Cox attended Roxborough High School in Philadelphia...
. They have two daughters and one son: Sharia, Shaya, and KobeKobe BryantKobe Bean Bryant is an American professional basketball player who plays shooting guard for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association . Bryant enjoyed a successful high school basketball career at Lower Merion High School, where he was recognized as the top high school...
.