Former NBA player Joe Bryant -- the father of Hall of Famer Kobe Bryant -- has died at 69 years old.
According to the Philadelphia Inquirer, Joe had been battling health issues ... and recently suffered a massive stroke.
Joe -- famously nicknamed "Jellybean" -- was a first-round pick to the Golden State Warriors in 1975 ... and played for the Philadelphia 76ers, San Diego Clippers and Houston Rockets before heading overseas.