Vanessa Bryant has passed on her condolences following the news of her father-in-law Joe 'Jellybean' Bryant's death.
On Tuesday, editors at The Philadelphia Inquirer reported that the former National Basketball Association (NBA) player, and the late Kobe Bryant's father, had passed away after suffering a "massive stroke". He was 69.
Responding to the sad news, Kobe's wife Vanessa issued a statement via Instagram Stories.
"Sending our condolences upon hearing the news of my father in law's passing. We hoped things would've been different," she wrote, referring to past tensions between Kobe and his family. "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 the family."
Joe had played for many teams including the Philadelphia 76ers, San Diego Clippers, and Houston Rockets over the course of his career, and served as a coach in Italy and Japan.
His son Kobe, who was widely considered to be one of the all-time greatest players of the sport, tragically died in a helicopter crash in January 2020. Eight other people were onboard, including his 13-year-old daughter Gianna.
In a statement, Joe's nephew John Cox said that he was "heartbroken" by the sudden loss.
"He was a basketball icon in the city of Philadelphia and someone I grew up admiring. The impact he has made both here at La Salle and in the Philly basketball community will be felt for years to come," he commented.
Elsewhere, basketball legend Magic Johnson also paid tribute to his late friend.
"I'm devastated to hear about the loss of my friend Joe 'Jellybean' Bryant, the father of Kobe Bryant. Joe was not only a talented basketball player; he was also a great coach. A lot of people don't know that he coached the LA Sparks in 2005, 2006, and 2011!" he posted on X, formerly known as Twitter. "Joe was an exceptional human being with a radiant smile that had the power to brighten any room, and a great husband and father. Cookie and I are praying for his wife Pam, daughters Sharia and Shaya, and the rest of the Bryant family, friends, and all those who loved Joe."
Vanessa, who wed Kobe in 2001, is also mother to daughters Natalia, Bianka, and Capri.
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