Michael Sweetney, the former New York Knicks lottery pick from the 2003 NBA Draft, has died at 43.
His wife, India, confirmed the news in a Facebook post and shared a message mourning his loss. “With the heaviest hearts, we are deeply saddened to announce the passing of our beloved Michael,” India wrote.
“To know Mike Sweetney was love to him. No one loved him more and he loved no one more than his family.
His children were the light of his life, and he lived every day to give them the best life possible. He’s been my best friend for 30 years and my husband for almost 20.
I’m not sure what we or I will do without him,” she added.
No details have been made public about how Sweetney died, and it is not clear whether he had been dealing with health problems.
Sweetney was taken by the Knicks with the ninth pick in the 2003 draft, the same class that included LeBron James. He spent two seasons in New York and carved out a solid role during that stretch, appearing in 119 games for the franchise. His best statistical season came in 2004-2005, when he averaged 8.4 points and 5.4 rebounds per game.
Before the 2005-2006 season, Sweetney was traded to the Chicago Bulls. He played two more years there, then continued his career overseas, where he remained active until 2017. He also had two separate tries with the Boston Celtics, though neither led to a roster spot.
At 6-foot-8, Sweetney was a little undersized for a power forward in the NBA, but his nearly 350-pound frame made him stand out in a different way. Weight issues followed him throughout both his life and basketball career.
Before entering the league, Sweetney starred at Georgetown for three seasons. His death makes him the second former Knicks player to pass away in the last couple of years.
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