The basketball world mourns another big loss! On January 26, 2020, Kobe Bryant’s family and the NBA were numb as the legend and his daughter, Gigi Bryant, were among the nine people who died in a helicopter crash. Nearly four and a half years later, the Bryant family is once again dealing with a similar situation. But this time, it’s Joe Bryant.

La Salle head coach Fran Dunphy confirmed on Tuesday that the GOAT’s father is no more. According to him, Bryant, 69, suffered a massive stroke that led to his death. “Joe Bryant, the father of Kobe Bryant and a basketball star in his own right at Bartram High School, at La Salle, and over eight seasons in the NBA, has died,” The Philadelphia Inquirer penned on their official X account.

https://x.com/phillyinquirer/status/1813214297226371292?s=46&t=1MdiFgVTI6O2G9CpAMfipw

Unfortunately, Joe Bryant has left his wife, Pam Cox, who has been beside him since they tied the knot in 1975. Now that Bryant is no more, Mrs. Bryant will be facing the hardships of life alone. Read on to know more about the late basketball star’s journey from top to bottom!

Who’s the inspiration behind Kobe Bryant’s success?

Kobe Bryant, often debated as the GOAT player in the NBA, inherited his basketball skills from his father. Before Kobe’s on-court success, his father Joe Bryant, then known as “Jellybean,” was a prominent NBA star. In 2010, Kobe told an ESPN reporter that he was a “great basketball mind.” Interestingly, his nickname was given to him by his mates due to his fondness for candies.

Coming back to his professional career, the 1972 Public League Player of the Year was a first-round pick in 1975 by the Golden State Warriors. Nearly four months later, the Warriors sold Bryant’s rights to the 76ers. Bryant spent the next four seasons with his home team and even led the Sixers to advance to the 1976-77 NBA Finals.

He then joined the Houston Rockets’ roster and stayed there until the 1982-83 season. Notably, the six-foot-nine player spent eight seasons in the NBA with the Rockets, Clippers, and Sixers, averaging 8.7 points in about 606 games. Later, he switched to playing overseas as playing professionally in Europe attracted him more.

Navigating through the hardships of life

After playing for nearly a decade, Bryant initiated his coaching career in 1992. Starting off with the WNBA’s Los Angeles Sparks, Bryant coached various roles in the US, Japan, and Thailand. Since Joe Bryant was an all-in-one package—a coach, an experienced NBA star, and a loving dad—Kobe’s path to NBA success was crystal clear.

“From an early age, he taught me how to view the game, how to prepare for the game, and how to execute,” Kobe told ESPN, crediting his father for his NBA success. To honor his dad, Kobe gifted him a 2000 NBA championship ring, marking a strong bond with Joe Bryant. But after Kobe embarked on his journey to a Hall of Fame career in the NBA, the relationship between father and son strained over time.

It was mainly because Kobe sought more freedom from his family. In 2013, Bryant Sr. tried to sell this ring in an auction, but the five-time champion didn’t allow his parents to take this action. Unfortunately, the relationship remained estranged until Kobe’s death in the helicopter crash.

Earlier this year in April, Kobe’s parents once again did what they weren’t allowed to when Kobe was alive. They sold the same 2000 NBA championship ring at an auction house for $760,000. As Kobe’s widow Vanessa handles Bryant’s $600 million estate, their move makes some sense now.

While Kobe’s wife Vanessa Bryant’s net worth is estimated to be $600 million, his father-in-law had a much lower valuation at $1-3 million. As Pam, Bryant Sr.’s wife, is now alone, she has to survive on her own. But the question is: Will Vanessa’s heart melt for her mother-in-law? Will she help her financially? Stay tuned to know!

Stay tuned for more such updates, and to follow what Shaq’s ex-agent, Leonard Armato, has to say about the infamous Shaq-Kobe feud, Caitlin Clark’s Olympic snub, and more, watch this video.