| Coach Joe Bryant | |
|---|---|
| WNBA's Los Angeles Sparks | |
| Nationality | American |
| WNBA career | 2005–present |
| Regular season | 40–23 (.635) |
| Postseason | 2–5 (.286) |
| Profile | WNBA Info Page |
| WNBA Head Coach of | |
| Los Angeles Sparks (2005–2007) Los Angeles Sparks (2011–present) |
|
| WNBA Assistant Coach of | |
| Los Angeles Sparks (2011) | |
| Bryant coaching the Rera Kamuy Hokkaido 2010 | |
| No. 23, 22 | |
|---|---|
| Power forward / Center | |
| Personal information | |
| Date of birth | October 19, 1954 |
| Place of birth | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
| Nationality | American |
| High school | John Bartram (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) |
| Listed height | 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) |
| Listed weight | 185 lb (84 kg) |
| Career information | |
| College | La Salle (1973–1975) |
| NBA Draft | 1975 / Round: 1 / Pick: 14th overall |
| Selected by the Golden State Warriors | |
| Pro career | 1975–1992 |
| Career history | |
| As player: | |
| 1975–1979 | Philadelphia 76ers |
| 1979–1982 | San Diego Clippers |
| 1982–1983 | Houston Rockets |
| 1984–1986 | American Eagle Rieti (Italy) |
| 1986–1987 | Standa Reggio Calabria (Italy) |
| 1987–1989 | Olimpia Pistoia (Italy) |
| 1989–1991 | Reggiana (Italy) |
| 1991–1992 | Mulhouse (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 | Rera Kamuy Hokkaido (Japan) |
| 2011–present | Los Angeles Sparks (WNBA) |
| 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 NBA.com | |
| 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 Los Angeles Lakers star 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.
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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. Bryant headed back to the West Coast when he was traded by the 76ers[3] 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 Sebastiani Rieti (1984–86), 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.
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.[4] In June 1993, Bryant left Akiba and accepted an assistant coach position at his alma-mater, LaSalle University.[5]
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.[6]
| Sporting positions | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Henry Bibby |
Los Angeles Sparks Head Coach 2005-2007 |
Succeeded by Michael Cooper |
| Preceded by Jennifer Gillom |
Los Angeles Sparks Head Coach 2011-present |
Succeeded by Incumbent |
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