The NBA is in shock: Michael Sweetney has died at the age of just 43

The basketball world is in shock over the death of Michael Sweetney, who passed away at just 43 years old. The news was announced by his wife, India Murray, in a post on social media, though she did not disclose the cause of her husband’s death. As a player, he had struggled with weight issues that also affected his career.

After playing college basketball at Georgetown, Sweetney was selected ninth overall in the 2003 NBA Draft by the New York Knicks, with whom he played for two seasons before being traded to the Chicago Bulls in 2005. In the NBA, he managed to carve out a respectable role, finishing his (short) career with 6.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 15.5 minutes per game. In 2009, he attempted a comeback with the Boston Celtics, but after summer training camp and a few appearances in exhibition games, they cut him.

After leaving the NBA, Sweetney did not immediately say goodbye to basketball, playing in China and Puerto Rico until 2017. After retiring as a player, Sweetney began a career as a coach. He became an assistant coach at Yeshiva University, a Division III college in the New York area, thus remaining connected to the world of basketball.