Michael Sweetney Dies at 43, Was Selected by Knicks 9th Overall in 2003 NBA Draft

Former NBA power forward Michael Sweetney died at the age of 43, his wife announced Thursday:

Sweetney was selected by the New York Knicks with the No. 9 pick in the 2003 NBA draft. He played two seasons in New York before being traded to the Chicago Bulls, where he played for two more years. He averaged 6.5 points and 4.5 rebounds during his NBA career before taking his basketball career overseas in 2009.

After his playing career ended in 2017, Sweetney became an assistant coach for the men's basketball team at Yeshiva University. Head coach Elliot Steinmetz released a statement about Sweetney's passing on social media:

Before playing in the NBA, Sweetney starred at Georgetown for three seasons from 2000 to 2003, averaging 18.2 points and 9.2 rebounds while shooting 55.4 percent from the field. His career scoring average ranks second in Georgetown history behind only Allen Iverson.

Sweetney finished his junior year with averages of 22.8 points and 10.4 rebounds on his way to becoming a Naismith College Player of the Year finalist and a candidate for the John R. Wooden Award.