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Knicks Ninth Pick Michael Sweetney Dies at 43

By Drooid · Sep 18, 2026, 11:00 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

Michael Sweetney died at age 43 at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center.
His wife India Sweetney announced his death on Facebook without giving a cause.
The Knicks, Bulls and Georgetown each posted condolences on X and other platforms.
He was the Knicks’ ninth overall pick in the 2003 NBA Draft.
After retiring, he served as an assistant coach at Division III Yeshiva University from 2019 to 2023.

History

Historical Context

On June 26 2003 the NBA held its draft at Madison Square Garden, where the New York Knicks took Georgetown forward Michael Sweetney ninth overall while the Cleveland Cavaliers selected high-school phenom LeBron James first. The draft is remembered as one of the deepest ever, with a record 31 international early-entry candidates and nine future All-Stars. Sweetney’s death in 2024 revives focus on health support for retired players.

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Story summary

Michael Sweetney died at age 43 at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center.
His wife India Sweetney announced his death on Facebook without giving a cause.
The Knicks, Bulls and Georgetown each posted condolences on X and other platforms.
He was the Knicks’ ninth overall pick in the 2003 NBA Draft.
After retiring, he served as an assistant coach at Division III Yeshiva University from 2019 to 2023.

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