Malik Sealy

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Malik Sealy
File:Malik Sealy.jpg
Sealy while playing for St. John's
Personal information
Born (1970-02-01)February 1, 1970
Bronx, New York
Died Error: Need valid death date (first date): year, month, day
St. Louis Park, Minnesota
Nationality American
Listed height 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)
Listed weight 200 lb (91 kg)
Career information
High school St. Nicholas of Tolentine
(Bronx, New York)
College St. John's (1988–1992)
NBA draft 1992 / Round: 1 / Pick: 14th overall
Selected by the Indiana Pacers
Playing career 1992–2000
Position Small forward / Shooting guard
Number 21, 14, 2
Career history
1992–1994 Indiana Pacers
1994–1997 Los Angeles Clippers
1997–1998 Detroit Pistons
1999–2000 Minnesota Timberwolves
Career highlights and awards
Career NBA statistics
Points 4,955 (10.1 ppg)
Rebounds 1,585 (3.2 rpg)
Steals 518 (1.1 spg)
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com

Malik Sealy (February 1, 1970 – May 20, 2000) was an American professional basketball player, active from 1992 until his death in an automobile accident at the age of 30. Sealy played eight seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA) for the Indiana Pacers, Los Angeles Clippers, Detroit Pistons and Minnesota Timberwolves.[1]

Early life

A native of the Bronx, New York, Sealy was named after noted African-American social activist Malik Shabazz, better known as Malcolm X, for whom Sealy's father had been a bodyguard. In his senior year at Tolentine high school, Sealy, along with future collegians Brian Reese, and Adrian Autry, went 30-1, and won the state title.[2] Sealy played college basketball at St. John's University, finishing his college career with 2,401 points, good for second all-time in St. John's history. Sealy was drafted by the Indiana Pacers with the 14th overall pick in the 1992 NBA Draft. When he was a rookie, he lost his playbook, which was turned over to WFAN radio personality Don Imus.[3]

NBA career

Over the course of his NBA career, Sealy averaged 10.1 points per game in 23.8 minutes. His final season's highlights included his making a game-winning reverse putback shot at the buzzer against the Orlando Magic on December 27, 1999 which gave the Timberwolves a 107–105 road win. He also made a game-winning 3-pointer off the glass as time expired in a 101–100 Timberwolves win over the Indiana Pacers on January 17, 2000.

Acting career

Sealy was also an aspiring actor, and had a major role as the talented but selfish basketball player 'Stacey Patton' in the 1996 motion picture Eddie starring Whoopi Goldberg. He also made appearances on TV shows such as The Sentinel and Diagnosis: Murder.[4] In addition to this, Sealy designed ties and clothing and owned "Malik Sealy XXI, Inc."[4]

Death

Sealy was killed in St. Louis Park, Minnesota on May 20, 2000.[4] He was driving home from a birthday celebration for teammate and best friend Kevin Garnett in downtown Minneapolis when his sport utility vehicle was struck by a pickup truck traveling the wrong way down the highway.[4] The truck was driven by 43-year-old Souksangouane Phengsene, who survived the accident with head and chest injuries. Neither driver was wearing a seatbelt. Phengsene's airbag deployed, but Sealy's SUV did not have one.[4]

Blood tests indicated that at the time of the accident, Phengsene had been driving drunk; his blood alcohol content was 0.19%. The legal limit in Minnesota at the time was 0.1%. He pled guilty to a charge of vehicular manslaughter, was given a four-year prison term, and was released from prison in 2003.[5]

Although his plea bargain in Sealy's death had not included a conviction specifically on the charge of driving while intoxicated, Phengsene had been convicted of drunken driving in a separate incident three years prior to his fatal collision with Sealy. After his release from prison, Phengsene was convicted of drunken driving in a new incident in 2006. After serving a year in a workhouse on that conviction, he was freed and then was arrested and convicted of drunken driving yet again in 2008. This latest conviction garnered him an eight-year prison sentence.[6]

Legacy

In Sealy's honor, the Minnesota Timberwolves retired his #2 jersey.[7] Kevin Garnett also paid a tribute to him, having written "2MALIK" in the inside of the tongue on the Adidas Garnett 3 shoes. Sealy was buried in Ferncliff Cemetery, the same cemetery as the slain civil rights leader for whom he was named. Garnett also has a tattoo honoring Sealy's name on his right arm.[8] Upon being traded from the Boston Celtics to the Brooklyn Nets in July 2013, Garnett changed his uniform number to #2 in honor of Sealy.[9] In his homecoming to Minnesota on February 25, 2015, Kevin Garnett wore a #2 sweatband on his left forearm in memory of his best friend.

See also

Notes

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External links

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  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 Sealy dies in collision with pickup truck, May 22, 2000
  5. ↑ "Malik Sealy's killer admits drinking 8 beers before latest arrest", Minneapolis Star Tribune
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