Joe Bryant, the father of the NBA legend Kobe, and a former basketball star at La Salle University and John Bartram High School, has passed away, writes Danielle Jennings for People.

He reportedly had recently suffered a massive stroke.

After graduating from La Salle in 1975, Bryant was selected as the No. 14 overall pick of the 1975 NBA Draft by the Golden State Warriors. He, however, never played a game for the team as they sold his rights to his hometown Philadelphia 76ers four months later.

He spent four seasons with his hometown team before being traded to the then-San Diego Clippers ahead of the 1979 season.

Bryant played 8 seasons in the NBA, before moving overseas and playing an additional 8 years in Italy and France.

After ending his playing career in 1992, he and his family moved back to states — notably Philadelphia — where Kobe went on to have a nationally-recognized high school career at Lower Merion High School.

Joe started coaching basketball after his playing days both in the U.S. and internationally, including a three-year stint as a WNBA coach with the Los Angeles Sparks.

Joe passed away 4 1/2 years after his son, Kobe, and granddaughter, Gianna. He is survived by his wife and two daughters.

Read more about the life of Joe Bryant in People.

_____