Michael ‘Mike’ Sweetney, the former Georgetown basketball star who went on to play four NBA seasons, has died at age 43, his wife has revealed on social media.

No cause of death has been given for Sweetney, who last played professionally in 2017 and had been working as an assistant coach at New York’s Yeshiva University since 2019. 

‘With the heaviest hearts, we are deeply saddened to announce the passing of our beloved Michael,’ Sweetney’s widow India wrote on Facebook. ‘To know Mike Sweetney was love to him. 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’s been my best friend for 30 years and my husband for almost 20. I’m not sure what we or I will do without him.

‘He was the best son, brother, family member, friend, father and husband ANYONE could ask for. We appreciate every call and text of love and support. We just asked that right now You give us all a little time before you start to reach out because it’s been pretty overwhelming. Thank you and God bless.’

Sweetney’s most recent social media post was made on July 12 and included a photo of himself with his three children at the family’s preferred ice cream parlor. He captioned the Instagram post: ‘Always will be my babies.’

Sweetney’s most recent social media post was made on July 12 and included a photo of himself with his three children at the family’s preferred ice cream parlor

Sweetney’s widow India revealed his passing on Facebook with a photo of their family 

Elliot Steinmetz, the head coach at Yeshiva University, is seen with Mike Sweetney, who served as an assistant coach at the school since 2019. Sweetney’s playing career ended in 2017 

A Washington DC native, Sweetney became a national name while attending Georgetown from 2000 until 2003. The program initially took a step backwards following legendary coach John Thompson’s retirement in 1999, but with Sweetney and center Ruben Boumtje-Boumtje in the paint, the Hoyas reached the NCAA Tournament regional semifinals in 2001 before falling to Maryland.

In 2003, Sweetney would be taken with the ninth-overall pick of the NBA Draft by the New York Knicks, but soon struggled with conditioning issues in the NBA and was let go by the Chicago Bulls after the 2006-07 season. He’d try to catch on with the Boston Celtics, who gave him a summer league invite in 2009, but spent the rest of his professional career overseas, primarily playing in Latin America.

Elliot Steinmetz, the head coach at Yeshiva, reacted to Sweetney’s passing with a touching statement on social media.

‘The world lost a giant today,’ Steinmetz wrote of the 6ft 8in retired power forward. ‘I lost a close friend. The basketball world lost a beloved star. Our Jewish community lost an ally and someone who knew exactly how to show up.

‘Mike Sweetney wasn’t just a friend. He was family. When you needed him, he was there. Always. You didn’t even have to ask.’

Mike Sweetney, the former Georgetown star who went on to play four NBA seasons, has died

Knicks 2003 draft picks Slavko Vranes, Mike Sweetney and Maciej Lampke pose for a photo

Mike Sweetney is pictured in 2017 during his brief stint with the BIG3 3-on-3 league 

Steinmetz, who was in Israel during the October 7th, 2023 terrorist attack said the first message he received was ‘Mike checking if I was ok.’

‘He knew I was in Israel,’ Steinmetz wrote.

‘A couple of years later, when Iran attacked Israel with ballistic missiles, the first message I got was from Mike. He knew my son, Noah was there and wanted to make sure he was ok.

‘When we would run a charity event for troubled teens, Mike would show up.

‘He was there for our student-athletes at Yeshiva University day in and day out, regardless of his other responsibilities and jobs. His dedication to mental health awareness and his willingness to share his story for the benefit of others was the work of a selfless human being with a huge heart.

‘Mike – we love you and we will miss you. Thanks for everything.’

Steinmetz instructed anyone who wished to assist the family to reach out to him directly.