Former NBA player and Philadelphia 76ers assistant coach Sean Rooks died Tuesday. He was 46. Rooks was the starting center for the Timberwolves for most of the 1994-95 season.
"It is with deep sadness and overwhelming grief that we mourn the sudden loss of my son, Sean," his mother, Deborah Brown, said in a statement released by the 76ers. "Our family asks that our privacy be respected as we grieve during this incredibly difficult time."
Rooks collapsed and died while having dinner at a Philadelphia restaurant, sources told The Undefeated's Marc Spears. He is said to have interviewed earlier in the day in New York for a Knicks assistant coaching position, according to ESPN.
"Sean will long be remembered not for his accomplishments on the court — of which there were many — but for his vibrant personality, positive outlook and the genuine care he had for everyone in his life," Rooks' former team, the 76ers, said in a Twitter tribute Tuesday afternoon.
Rooks joined the Wolves when he was traded from Dallas at the start of the 1994 season for a 1997 first-round draft pick. After playing more sparingly in his second season with the Wolves, he was traded to Atlanta along with forward Christian Laettner for center Andrew Lang and guard Spud Webb.
In a tweet, the Timberwolves said: "We are saddened to hear of the passing of Sean Rooks & our thoughts are with his family. It was an honor to have Sean be part of our team."
Rooks averaged 10.9 points and 6.1 recounds per game for Minnesota in 1994-95. He played for six other teams before retiring in 2004.
Born in New York City, Rooks attended Fontana High School in California, going on to play college basketball at the University of Arizona. He was drafted by the Dallas Mavericks in 1992 and played in the NBA for 14 years before retiring in 2004.
