Former Georgetown, Knicks Star Mike Sweetney Dies at 43
Former Georgetown, Knicks Star Mike Sweetney Dies at 43
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Key Points
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Before reaching the NBA, Sweetney starred at Oxon Hill High School in Prince George’s County, where he was named The Washington Post’s All-Met Player of the Year. At Georgetown, he averaged 18.2 points per game over three seasons and earned All-American honors in 2002-03.
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Sweetney appeared in 233 NBA games. The Knicks traded him to the Chicago Bulls in 2005 in a deal involving Eddy Curry and Antonio Davis; after leaving the NBA, he played professionally in China, Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, Uruguay and Venezuela, and later joined Ice Cube’s Big3 league in 2017.
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Yeshiva University associate coach Elliot Steinmetz described Sweetney as a devoted friend and mental-health advocate who regularly supported the school’s student-athletes and participated in charity events for troubled teens. Steinmetz wrote, “The world lost a giant today. I lost a close friend.”
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Sweetney’s final reported social-media post, published July 12, showed him with his three children at the family’s favorite ice cream parlor and was captioned, “Always will be my babies.”
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Reports noted that Sweetney struggled with conditioning and weight during his NBA career; after the Bulls released him following the 2006-07 season, he attempted to continue his NBA career with a Boston Celtics summer-league invitation.
Mike Sweetney, the Georgetown basketball star and ninth overall pick in the 2003 NBA Draft by the New York Knicks, has died at 43, his wife India announced on social media Khel Ja. Sweetney, a Washington, D.C., native, played four NBA seasons with the Knicks and Chicago Bulls before continuing his career overseas and later coaching at Yeshiva University. He had spoken publicly about depression and a suicide attempt during his rookie season following his father's death New York Times.
A Star's Path From D.C. to the NBA
Sweetney dominated high school basketball at Oxon Hill in Prince George's County, earning The Washington Post's All-Met Player of the Year award. At Georgetown, he averaged 18.2 points per game over three seasons and earned All-American honors in 2002-03 Khel Ja. The Knicks selected him in the first round, beginning his NBA career with promise and visibility in New York.
Four Seasons in the NBA and Beyond
Sweetney appeared in 233 NBA games during his career news-gazette.com. The Knicks traded him to the Chicago Bulls in 2005 in a deal involving Eddy Curry and Antonio Davis. After leaving the NBA, he played professionally in China, Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, Uruguay, and Venezuela. In 2017, he joined Ice Cube's Big3 league Khel Ja.
Mental Health Advocate and Devoted Coach
Sweetney struggled with his mental health after his father's death during his rookie season, attempting suicide but later becoming an advocate for depression awareness. At Yeshiva University, where he coached, associate coach Elliot Steinmetz described him as devoted and supportive. Steinmetz wrote that Sweetney "regularly supported the school's student-athletes and participated in charity events for troubled teens." Steinmetz mourned: "The world lost a giant today. I lost a close friend news-gazette.com."
Remembered as a Devoted Family Man
Sweetney's final social media post, published July 12, showed him with his three children at their favorite ice cream parlor. The caption read: "Always will be my babies Khel Ja." His wife described him as a devoted husband and father. No cause of death or memorial service details were announced at the time of his passing New York Times.
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