More sad news has hit Kobe Bryant‘s family as it’s been announced that his father, Joe “Jellybean” Bryant, died at the age of 69.
Although Bryant’s widow Vanessa admittedly didn’t have a close relationship with her father-in-law, she and her girls sent their condolences to the family.
“Sending our condolences upon hearing the news of my father-in-law’s passing,” she wrote on her Instagram Story. “We hoped things would’ve been different. Although the times we spent together were few, he was always sweet and nice to be around. Kobe loved him very much. Our prayers go out to family.”
Vanessa Bryant on IG https://t.co/p0eukrqGLN pic.twitter.com/RxooasTbUV
— Ballislife.com (@Ballislife) July 16, 2024
Kobe and Vanessa Bryant married young to the dismay of his parents who didn’t approve at the time. They had another falling out in 2013 when his mother tried to auction off memorabilia that belonged to the Lakers star.
Joe Bryant was a first-round pick in the 1975 NBA Draft by the Golden State Warriors. He played in the NBA for a little under a decade and continued playing professionally into the 1990s. Kobe was born while his father was playing for the 76ers, and they lived in Europe together during his playing career.
The younger Bryant always talked about how his growing up overseas had influenced his life.
