Former NBA forward Michael Sweetney, who had two separate training camp stints with the Boston Celtics, has died at the age of 43. Sweetney passed away on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center in New Jersey.
Michael Sweetney's connection to the Boston Celtics was brief but notable. The 6-foot-8, 275-pound forward joined the team's summer league squad in 2009. He earned an invitation to training camp that October as the defending champions sought additional size. Head coach Doc Rivers praised his talent, but Sweetney struggled with his weight during camp. The Celtics waived him on October 22 after he appeared in five preseason games.
He returned for another look in December 2011 during the lockout-shortened season. Boston cut him again on December 22. Sweetney never played a regular-season minute for the Celtics. His time in green represents a footnote in a career that showed great promise at Georgetown University.
Before his time with Boston, Michael Sweetney was a college star. He averaged 18.2 points and 9.2 rebounds over three seasons with the Georgetown Hoyas. As a junior in 2002-03, he put up 22.8 points and 10.4 rebounds per game, earning All-America honors. The New York Knicks selected him with the ninth overall pick in the 2003 NBA Draft.
Sweetney spent two seasons with the Knicks and two with the Chicago Bulls. In 233 total NBA games, he averaged 6.5 points and 4.5 rebounds. His professional career was limited by well-documented weight and mental-health struggles. He later spoke publicly about battling depression and a suicide attempt during his years in New York.
After his NBA career, he continued playing basketball overseas and in the BIG3 league. He eventually turned to coaching, working at Yeshiva University, Ramaz School, and Golda Och Academy shortly before his death.
The Celtics organization mourns Sweetney while the current team continues its season.
Fans can track the team's progress on the official standings page.
The basketball community has expressed deep sadness. The Knicks, Bulls, Georgetown University, and the NBA all issued statements remembering Sweetney. They described him as an "incredible person" known for his big heart. His wife, India, shared a personal tribute. She said he was a devoted husband and father whose three children "were the light of his life."
No official cause of death has been released. One report cited complications from a heart attack. For Celtics fans, especially those from the late 2000s era, Sweetney's name may ring a bell. He was a physical big man the front office liked enough to evaluate twice. They were searching for affordable frontcourt help during the tail end of the Big Three era and again as the roster evolved. He had the college pedigree and the frame, but an NBA role in Boston never materialized. His story is a reminder of the difficult transitions many athletes face.
