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Kobe Bryant's Family Suffers Another Heartbreaking Loss

The Kobe Bryant family has unfortunately suffered another heartbreaking loss after the latest news.

By Isaiah De Los Santos

Mar 10, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward Kobe Bryant (24) waits on the bench before the start of the game against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 10, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward Kobe Bryant (24) waits on the bench before the start of the game against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports / Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
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Four years later, the loss of Kobe Bryant continues to loom large over both the NBA, and the sporting world at large. As Team USA prepares for play in Paris, Bryant has re-entered the minds of hoop heads given his prolific Olympic performances throughout his career.

While many prepare to cheer on the Americans, though, the Bryant family is now dealing with another devastating loss.

The Philadelphia Inquirer's Mike Sielski reported on Tuesday that Kobe's father, Joe Bryant, has passed away at the age of 69. Joe suffered a "massive stroke" recently, according to current La Salle (where Joe went to college) head coach Fran Dunphy, which proved too much to overcome.

After starring at Bartram High School in Philadelphia and La Salle, Bryant was eventually a first-round pick by the Golden State Warriors during the 1975 draft. He wouldn't suit up in a game for Golden State, however, as the Warriors sold his rights to his hometown 76ers four months later.

Joe Bryant went on to play eight seasons in the NBA, averaging 8.7 points, 4.0 rebounds and 1.7 assists across 606 career games. He then went on to play overseas before eventually coming back to Philly, where Kobe was eventually born.

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