Michael Sweetney, a former NBA forward known for his time with the New York Knicks and Chicago Bulls, has passed away at the age of 43. He died on Wednesday at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center.
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Sweetney was selected ninth overall in the 2003 NBA Draft by the Knicks after a distinguished college career at Georgetown University. His NBA career spanned four seasons, from 2003 to 2007, during which he played with the Knicks for two years before joining the Bulls.
During his time in the NBA, Sweetney averaged 6.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 15.5 minutes over 233 games, including 73 starts. He had an impressive college career at Georgetown, where he averaged double-doubles in his final two seasons, scoring 19 points and grabbing 10 rebounds per game in 2001-02, and 22.8 points along with 10.4 rebounds per game in 2002-03. He ranks fifth in Georgetown's history for career rebounds (887), seventh for career blocks (180), and ninth for career points (1,750).
The Knicks, Bulls, and Georgetown all paid tribute to Sweetney on social media, expressing condolences to his family. Yeshiva University's head coach, Elliot Steinmetz, also remembered Sweetney, stating, "The world lost a giant today. I lost a close friend. The basketball world lost a beloved star. Our Jewish community lost an ally and someone who knew exactly how to show up. Mike Sweetney wasn’t just a friend. He was family."
In addition to his NBA career, Sweetney later served as an assistant coach at Yeshiva University, a Division III school in New York.