Joe Bryant, Father of Kobe Bryant, Dies at 65

Former NBA Player and College Basketball Standout

Joe Bryant, the father of the late NBA great Kobe Bryant, has died at the age of 65. La Salle University, where Joe Bryant played college basketball, announced his passing on Wednesday.

Bryant, a standout at La Salle in the early 1970s, went on to play eight seasons in the NBA with the Philadelphia 76ers, San Diego/Houston Rockets, and Boston Celtics. He was known for his defensive prowess and was a key member of the 76ers' 1977 NBA championship team.

After retiring from the NBA, Bryant became a successful coach, leading the Philadelphia Rage of the CBA to a championship in 1993. He also coached at Lower Merion High School in Pennsylvania, where his son Kobe played before entering the NBA.

Kobe Bryant with his father Joe Bryant in Anaheim, Calif. on June 21, 2009 (McDonough/Sports Illustrated via Getty Images)

Joe Bryant is survived by his wife Pam and two other daughters, Shaya and Sharia.