Joe Bryant
Personal information | |
---|---|
Born | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | October 19, 1954
Nationality | American |
Listed height | 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) |
Listed weight | 185 lb (84 kg) |
Career information | |
High school | John Bartram (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) |
College | La Salle (1973–1975) |
NBA draft | 1975: 1st round, 14th overall pick |
Selected by the Golden State Warriors | |
Playing career | 1975–1991 |
Position | Power forward / Small forward |
Number | 23, 22 |
Coaching career | 1992–2015 |
Career history | |
As player: | |
1975–1979 | Philadelphia 76ers |
1979–1982 | San Diego Clippers |
1982–1983 | Houston Rockets |
1983–1986 | AMG Sebastiani Rieti |
1986–1987 | Standa Reggio Calabria |
1987–1989 | Olimpia Pistoia |
1989–1991 | Reggiana |
1991 | Mulhouse |
As coach: | |
1992–1993 | Akiba Hebrew Academy |
1993–1996 | La Salle (assistant) |
2003–2004 | Las Vegas Rattlers |
2004–2005 | Boston Frenzy |
2005–2007 | Los Angeles Sparks |
2007–2009 | Tokyo Apache |
2010–2011 | Levanga Hokkaido |
2011 | Los Angeles Sparks |
2012 | Bangkok Cobras |
2013 | Chang Thailand Slammers |
2014–2015 | Rizing Fukuoka |
Career NBA statistics | |
Points | 5,252 (8.7 ppg) |
Rebounds | 2,441 (4.0 rpg) |
Assists | 1,049 (1.7 apg) |
Stats at NBA.com | |
Stats at Basketball Reference |
Joseph Washington Bryant (born October 19, 1954), nicknamed "Jellybean",[1] is an American former professional basketball player and coach. He played for the Philadelphia 76ers, San Diego Clippers, and Houston Rockets of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He also played for several teams in Italy and one in France. He was the father of former Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant. Bryant was the head coach of the WNBA's Los Angeles Sparks from 2005 to 2007[2] and returned to that position for the remainder of the 2011 WNBA season. Bryant has also coached in Italy, Japan, and Thailand.
Professional career
Philadelphia 76ers (1975–1979)
After starring at La Salle University, Bryant, a 6'9" (2.06 m) forward, was drafted in the first round by the Golden State Warriors in the 1975.[3] Before the season started, though, he was dealt to his hometown team, the Philadelphia 76ers, with whom he played for four seasons. In his second season, the 1976–77 76ers team, featured NBA all-stars Julius Erving, Doug Collins, and George McGinnis, they reached the 1977 NBA Finals, but eventually lost to the Portland Trail Blazers, 4 games to 2.[4]
San Diego Clippers (1979–1982)
Before the 1979–80 season, the Sixers traded Bryant to the San Diego Clippers,[5] where he spent three seasons. In the first game of the 1979–80 season, played at home against the Los Angeles Lakers, Bryant memorably had a slam dunk over center Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Despite the dunk and a 46-point effort by teammate Lloyd Free (who had also been his teammate on the Sixers), the Lakers prevailed on a game-winning sky hook by Abdul-Jabbar.
Houston Rockets
Following the 1981 season, Bryant played one season for the Houston Rockets.
Europe (1982–1992)
Bryant played overseas in Italy and France from 1982–1992. He ended his playing career in 1992.
Coaching career
Akiba Hebrew Academy (1992–1993)
Bryant's first coaching position, after returning from Europe, was when he was deployed with the U.S. Armed Forces in Italy. In the 1992–93 season, he served as the head coach of the women's varsity team at Akiba Hebrew Academy in Lower Merion, Pennsylvania.[6]
La Salle Explorers (1993–1996)
In June 1993, he left Akiba and accepted an assistant coach position at his alma mater, La Salle University.[7] On May 7, 1996, Bryant resigned from La Salle after his son Kobe announced his intentions to enter the NBA out of high school.[8]
Diablos (2003)
Bryant served as coach for the Diablos during the 2003 season of SlamBall, in which the team posted a record of 4–6 and finished seventh place.
Los Angeles Sparks (2005–2007)
On August 22, 2005, Bryant, who was an assistant coach for the WNBA team Los Angeles Sparks, was named the head coach, 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.
Tokyo Apache (2007–2008)
Bryant spent the 2007–08 season coaching the Tokyo Apache of the Japanese BJ League, during which the team was the runner-up in the playoffs.
Sebastiani Rieti (2009–2010)
On July 3, 2009, Bryant signed a contract with his first Italian club, Sebastiani Rieti.[9] The 2009–2010 season was also the club's last.
Levanga Hokkaido (2010–2011)
Bryant served as the head coach of Japanese professional basketball team Levanga Hokkaido during the 2010–2011 JBL season.
Bangkok Cobras (2012–2013)
In January 2012, Bryant was hired as coach of the Bangkok Cobras in the ASEAN Basketball League (ABL). He coached for the 2012–2013 season.[10]
Rising Fukuoka (2015)
Bryant served as the head coach of Rizing Fukuoka of the BJ League during 2015.[11]
Head coaching record
Regular season | G | Games coached | W | Games won | L | Games lost | W–L % | Win–loss % |
Playoffs | PG | Playoff games | PW | Playoff wins | PL | Playoff losses | PW–L % | Playoff win–loss % |
WNBA
Team | Year | G | W | L | W–L% | Finish | PG | PW | PL | PW–L% | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Los Angeles Sparks | 2005 | 6 | 4 | 2 | .667 | 4th in Western | 2 | 0 | 2 | .000 | Lost Conference Semifinals |
Los Angeles Sparks | 2006 | 34 | 25 | 9 | .735 | 1st in Western | 5 | 2 | 3 | .400 | Lost Conference Finals |
Los Angeles Sparks | 2011 | 24 | 11 | 13 | .458 | 5th in Western | – | – | – | – | – |
Japan
Team | Year | G | W | L | W–L% | Finish | PG | PW | PL | PW–L% | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Tokyo Apache | 2005–06 | 40 | 20 | 20 | .500 | 3rd | – | – | – | – | – |
Tokyo Apache | 2006–07 | 40 | 12 | 28 | .300 | 8th | – | – | – | – | – |
Tokyo Apache | 2007–08 | 44 | 27 | 17 | .614 | 2nd in Eastern | 2 | 1 | 1 | .500 | Runners-up |
Tokyo Apache | 2008–09 | 52 | 33 | 19 | .635 | 2nd in Eastern | 4 | 3 | 1 | .750 | Runners-up |
Rera Kamuy Hokkaido | 2010–11 | 22 | 6 | 16 | .273 | Fired | – | – | – | – | – |
Rizing Fukuoka | 2014–15 | 32 | 9 | 23 | .281 | 9th in Western | – | – | – | – | – |
Personal life
In 1975, Bryant married Pam Cox, sister of former NBA player Chubby Cox. Their son, Kobe, had a 20-year Hall of Fame career with the Los Angeles Lakers, winning five NBA championships. Kobe, along with his daughter Gianna, died in a helicopter crash in Calabasas, California on January 26, 2020. Bryant also has two daughters, Sharia and Shaya. Through his wife Pam, he is the uncle of professional basketball player John Cox IV.
References
- ^ Martinez, Nico (January 29, 2020). "Kobe's Father, Joe Bryant, Seen For The First Time Since Son and Granddaughter's Death". fadeawayworld.net. Retrieved February 1, 2020.
- ^ "ESPN.com – WNBA – Bryant out, Cooper Back in as Sparks Coach". ESPN.
- ^ "The evolution of Kobe Bryant – Ian Thomsen – SI.com". CNN. 2008-06-04. Retrieved 2010-05-06.
- ^ "Basketball Statistics and History | Basketball-Reference.com".
- ^ Bryant was traded for what eventually turned out to the first pick in the 1986 NBA draft, although prior to the draft the 76ers had traded the pick to the Cleveland Cavaliers, who selected Brad Daugherty. [1]
- ^ Charry, Rob (2004-02-27). "Coach Bryant? Akiba Once Led by Kobe's Dad". The Forward. The Forward. Retrieved 2009-03-24.
- ^ "Bryant Returns to LaSalle as Assistant". Philadelphia Daily News. Philadelphia Daily News. 1993-06-24.
- ^ "Bryant Quits La Salle Job". The New York Times. Associated Press. May 8, 1996. Retrieved August 22, 2020.
- ^ Maffioli, Luca (2009-07-03). "Joe Bryant nuovo coach di Rieti" (in Italian). Sport Blog. Archived from the original on 2010-09-27. Retrieved 2009-07-04.
- ^ Bangkok team hires Kobe’s dad Archived 2012-01-13 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Bryant out as Rizing Fukuoka coach
External links
- 1954 births
- Living people
- African-American basketball coaches
- African-American basketball players
- African-American Catholics
- American expatriate basketball people in France
- American expatriate basketball people in Italy
- American expatriate basketball people in Japan
- American expatriate basketball people in Thailand
- American men's basketball players
- AMG Sebastiani Basket players
- Basketball coaches from Pennsylvania
- Basketball players from Philadelphia
- Bryant family
- Catholics from Pennsylvania
- Centers (basketball)
- FC Mulhouse Basket players
- Golden State Warriors draft picks
- Houston Rockets players
- John Bartram High School alumni
- La Salle Explorers men's basketball coaches
- La Salle Explorers men's basketball players
- Levanga Hokkaido coaches
- Los Angeles Sparks head coaches
- Olimpia Basket Pistoia players
- Pallacanestro Reggiana players
- Philadelphia 76ers players
- Power forwards (basketball)
- Rizing Zephyr Fukuoka coaches
- San Diego Clippers players
- Small forwards
- Sportspeople from Philadelphia
- Tokyo Apache coaches
- Viola Reggio Calabria players