Former NBA lottery pick Mike Sweetney has died at the age of 43, his wife India announced Thursday in a social media post (story via Justin Terranova of The New York Post).
“It is with heavy hearts that we are deeply saddened to announce the passing of our beloved Michael,” India wrote on Facebook. “Knowing that Mike Sweetney was his love. 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 was my best friend for 30 years and my husband for almost 20. I’m not sure what we or I would do without him.”
The cause of death is not reported.
Sweetney, who starred at Georgetown before turning pro, entered the NBA with the ninth overall pick in the 2003 draft. The 6’8″ forward/center spent two seasons with the Nix and two more from Bykovaveraging 6.5 points and 4.5 rebounds in 15.5 minutes per game over 233 regular season games (73 starts).
Although Sweetney only spent four years in the NBA, he continued to play in other leagues until 2017, competing in Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, Uruguay and Venezuela. He also competed in the BIG3.
Talking to Alex Kennedy of HoopsHype In 2017, late in his playing career, Sweetney, who struggled with weight issues during his time in New York and Chicago, admitted that he dealt with major depression during his NBA career and attempted suicide when he was a Knick.
He told Kennedy that he eventually got the help he needed and that he was determined to pay it forward by raising awareness and helping others deal with the problems he faced.
“I speak in schools and mostly work with kids who have struggled with depression or are dealing with suicide prevention,” Sweetney said at the time. “I’m actually in the process of starting my own foundation… I’m trying to tell these kids, ‘At the first sign of depression, get help. Go talk to someone. Don’t keep it.” For me, it got to the point where I kept it and I gained so much weight that I lost my NBA career.
“I just really wanted my story to be positive. When I go talk to kids, I use my life as an example. I tell them, ‘Google my name.’ All you will see is a bunch of fat jokes and bad things about me. You won’t find anything positive.” A lot of these kids are being cyberbullied, so I try to use myself as an example to help them through it. I tell them what I went through, show them articles that have been written about me, and let them know that everything is going to be okay, even if they don’t understand or believe it right now.”
After retiring as a player, Sweetney spent several years as an assistant coach at Yeshiva University. The school’s head coach for men’s basketball, Eliot Steinmetzposted a message on social media Thursday, calling Sweetney “family.”
“He was there for our student-athletes at Yeshiva University day in and day out, regardless of his other responsibilities and work.” Steinmetz wrote (via Twitter). “His dedication to mental health awareness and willingness to share his story for the benefit of others was the work of a selfless man with a big heart. Mike, we love you and will miss you. Thank you for everything.”
We at Hoops Rumors send our condolences to Sweetney’s family and friends.
