Joe Bryant

Joe Bryant

Bryant coaching the Levanga Hokkaido 2010.
Personal information
Born (1954-10-19) October 19, 1954
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
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 / Round: 1 / Pick: 14th overall
Selected by the Golden State Warriors
Playing career 1975–1992
Position Power forward / Center
Number 23, 22
Coaching career 2003–present
Career history
As player:
1975–1979 Philadelphia 76ers
1979–1982 San Diego Clippers
1982–1983 Houston Rockets
1984–1986 AMG Sebastiani Rieti (Italy)
1986–1987 Standa Reggio Calabria (Italy)
1987–1989 Olimpia Pistoia (Italy)
1989–1991 Reggiana (Italy)
1991–1992 FC Mulhouse Basket (France)
As coach:
2003–2004 Las Vegas Rattlers (ABA)
2004–2005 Boston Frenzy (ABA)
2005–2006 Los Angeles Sparks (WNBA)
2007–2009 Tokyo Apache (Japan)
2010–2011 Levanga Hokkaido (Japan)
2011 Los Angeles Sparks (WNBA)
2012 Bangkok Cobras (ABL)
2013 Chang Thailand Slammers (ABL)
2015 Rizing Fukuoka (Japan)
Career NBA and Serie A statistics
Points 12,584 (14.8 ppg)
Rebounds 4,012 (4.7 rpg)
Assists 1,595 (1.9 apg)
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com

Joseph Washington "Jellybean" Bryant (born October 19, 1954) is a retired American professional basketball player, current coach, and the father of former Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant. Bryant was the head coach of the WNBA's Los Angeles Sparks from August 22, 2005 until April 4, 2007.[1] He returned to that position after Jennifer Gillom was fired by the Los Angeles Sparks on July 10, 2011. Bryant has also coached in Italy, Japan and in Thailand.

Pro career

After starring at La Salle University, Bryant, a 6'9" (2.07 m) forward, was drafted in the first round by the Golden State Warriors in 1975.[2] Before the season started, though, he was dealt to his hometown team, the Philadelphia 76ers, with whom he played for four seasons. His 1976-77 Sixers team, featuring NBA all-stars Julius Erving, Doug Collins and George McGinnis, reached the NBA finals, but eventually lost to the Portland Trail Blazers 4 games to 2.[3] Bryant headed back to the West Coast when he was traded by the 76ers[4] 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 AMG Sebastiani Rieti (1984–86), Viola 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.

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 Academy in Lower Merion, Pennsylvania.[5] In June 1993, Bryant left Akiba and accepted an assistant coach position at his alma-mater, La Salle University.[6] Bryant served as coach for the Diablos in the 2003 Season of SlamBall.

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.[7]

In January 2012, he became coach of the Bangkok Cobras in the ASEAN Basketball League (ABL).[8] He also served as the head coach of Rizing Fukuoka of the bj league.[9]

Personal life

Joe Bryant is married to Pam Cox, sister of former NBA player Chubby Cox. They have two daughters and one son: Sharia, Shaya, and Kobe. Kobe became an NBA All-Star player and won multiple NBA championships with the Los Angeles Lakers. He also is the uncle of professional basketball player John Cox IV.

References

  1. ↑ "ESPN.com - WNBA - Bryant out, Cooper Back in as Sparks Coach". ESPN.
  2. ↑ "The evolution of Kobe Bryant - Ian Thomsen - SI.com". CNN. 2008-06-04. Retrieved 2010-05-06.
  3. ↑ http://www.basketball-reference.com
  4. ↑ 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.
  5. ↑ Charry, Rob (2004-02-27). "Coach Bryant? Akiba Once Led by Kobe’s Dad". The Forward. Retrieved 2009-03-24.
  6. ↑ "Bryant Returns to LaSalle as Assistant". Philadelphia Daily News. 1993-06-24.
  7. ↑ Maffioli, Luca (2009-07-03). "Joe Bryant nuovo coach di Rieti" (in Italian). http://varesebasket.sport-blog.it/. Retrieved 2009-07-04. External link in |publisher= (help)
  8. ↑ Bangkok team hires Kobe’s dad
  9. ↑ Bryant out as Rizing Fukuoka coach

External links

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