Kobe Bryant is now 5th on the NBA's all-time scoring list and has been selected for his 14th All-Star game - Sgt. Joseph A. Lee photo

Kobe's father Joe Bryant is now coaching the Bangkok Cobras of the ASEAN Basketball League (ABL) - STB-1 photo

NBA BEAT Part 2 - THE BRYANTS FATHER (JELLYBEAN) & SON (KOBE)

James Loving - National Radio Text Service

While Kobe Bryant is breaking NBA basketball records Papa Jellybean is plying his basketball history as a coach of the new ABL league entry Bangkok Cobras. ASEAN Basketball League, (ABL). The ABL is a men's professional basketball league in Southeast Asia.

Wednesday February 08, 2012

IT'S A FAMILY AFFAIR

How do the lyrics to that song go…? It's a family affair… well basketball is a family affair in LA and with the Bryant's Kobe and Jellybean Joe that is. Kobe the offspring has benefited from his father Joe's NBA experience that has taken different paths. There's no question that the relationship of parenting and influence has helped Kobe become the player that he is today. He benefited from watching pro players while he was in his youth and learned the pro mentality.

His dedication to the game spiced his talent as the adage goes practice makes perfect. Kobe was selected for his 14th consecutive appearance in an All-Star game tying him with Jerry West, Karl Malone, and Shaquille O'Neal. He also joins Hall of Famer Bob Pettit (1956, 1958, 1959 and 1962) as the only four-time All-Star Game MVPs.

The now 33-year-old 15-year NBA veteran established another NBA milestone in his home town Philadelphia in a 95-90 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers one of his father's former teams. Bryant scored 24 of his 28 points in the first half. He passed former teammate Shaquille O'Neal and moved into fifth place on the NBA's career scoring list. Bryant is currently the NBA's leading scorer with 29.4 points and has 28,601 career points. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Karl Malone, Michael Jordan and Wilt Chamberlain are ahead of Bryant on the scoring list.

Papa Jellybean is plying his basketball trade as a coach of the new ABL league entry Bangkok Cobras in the ASEAN Basketball League, (ABL). The ABL is a men's professional basketball league in Southeast Asia.

The league currently has eight teams that hail from six countries Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines (2), Singapore, Thailand (2) and Vietnam. Thailand and the Philippines are represented by two teams. Bryant's Cobras are off to a miserable 2-3 start and are just above another new entry the Saigon Heat who is at the bottom of the league with a 0-5 record.

Jellybean is not being touted as being Kobe Bryant's father. It was mentioned once during a recent telecast. While a player in the NBA Joe Bryant had a mediocre career with the Philadelphia 76ers 1975-1979, San Diego Clippers 1979-1982 and Houston Rockets 1982-1983.

He served primarily as a role player with his best season was with the Clippers in 82 and 81 when he averaged 11.8 ppg. and 11.6 with highs of 32 and 34 points in a game respectively. In 1975 he was a first round draft pick 14th overall Selected by the Golden State Warriors who then traded him to the Sixers where he saw limited playing time.

Though Jellybean had retired his game wasn't over yet. In March of 2004 as a coach of the Las Vegas Rattlers of the American Basketball Association (ABA) the then 49-year-old inserted himself into a game against the Long Beach Jam. Bryant scored 19 point on 7-23 shooting in a 142-122 loss to their rivals.

The elder wore his son's then number 8 at the time after receiving permission from Kobe who insisted that his father rack up 30 points. In this respect the Jellybean failed to deliver.

Former NBA player and then Jam coach Earl Cureton was impressed with Bryant. "He used his head out on the court," Cureton said. "It definitely wasn't because he was faster or quicker than anybody else out there. He outthought everybody." Bryant inserted himself into the lineup a 2nd time that season in a game played in Juarez, Mexico.

At the time Kobe was in Eagle, Colorado for a hearing on his rape trail for being accused of sexually assaulting a teenage employee of a Vail, Colorado resort where he was a guest.

As a professional coach Bryant has had stints with 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 Los Angeles Sparks (WNBA), and currently 2012 - Bangkok Cobras (ABL).

With the level of play being what it is in the ASEAN league does the possibility exist that the now 57-year-old Jellybean play in a pro game again? Stay tuned…

NBA BEAT Part 1 - ALL STAR GAME AN LA FAMILY AFFAIR

NOTE: The LAKERS SUB page has been split into two sections. The older material is now in section 1999 to 2008