Malik Sealy

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]

Malik Sealy
Sealy while playing for St. John's
Personal information
Born(1970-02-01)February 1, 1970
Bronx, New York
DiedMay 20, 2000(2000-05-20) (aged 30)
St. Louis Park, Minnesota
NationalityAmerican
Listed height6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)
Listed weight200 lb (91 kg)
Career information
High schoolTolentine (Bronx, New York)
CollegeSt. John's (1988–1992)
NBA draft1992 / Round: 1 / Pick: 14th overall
Selected by the Indiana Pacers
Playing career1992–2000
PositionSmall forward / Shooting guard
Number21, 14, 2
Career history
1992–1994Indiana Pacers
1994–1997Los Angeles Clippers
1997–1998Detroit Pistons
1998–2000Minnesota Timberwolves
Career highlights and awards
Career NBA statistics
Points4,955 (10.1 ppg)
Rebounds1,585 (3.2 rpg)
Steals518 (1.1 spg)
Stats  at NBA.com
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com

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

NBA career

Over the course of his NBA career, Sealy averaged 10.1 points per game in 23.8 minutes. As a rookie, he lost his playbook, which was turned over to WFAN radio personality Don Imus, whom Sealy contacted on the air in an attempt to have it returned.[3] His final season's highlights included 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 pleaded guilty to a charge of vehicular manslaughter, was given a four-year prison term, and was released from prison in 2003.[5]

Sealy is buried at Ferncliff Cemetery in Hartsdale, New York, alongside his idol, Malcolm X.[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. Garnett 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.

Career statistics
Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field goal percentage  3P%  3-point field goal percentage  FT%  Free throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game  Bold  Career high

Regular season
Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
1992–93 Indiana 58211.6.426.226.6891.9.8.6.15.7
1993–94 Indiana 43514.5.405.250.6782.71.1.7.26.6
1994–95 L.A. Clippers 604126.7.435.301.7803.61.81.2.413.0
1995–96 L.A. Clippers 624825.8.415.210.7993.91.91.4.511.5
1996–97 L.A. Clippers 807930.7.396.356.8763.02.11.6.613.5
1997–98 Detroit 771021.3.428.220.8242.81.3.8.37.7
1998–99 Minnesota 31723.6.411.261.9023.01.21.0.28.1
1999–00 Minnesota 826129.2.476.286.8124.32.4.9.211.3
Career 49325323.8.426.292.8093.21.71.1.310.1

Playoffs
Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
1993 Indiana 306.0.000.0001.000.7.0.0.0.7
1997 L.A. Clippers 3326.3.480.200.7331.01.7.0.012.0
1999 Minnesota 4017.5.348—.8001.5.8.3.35.0
2000 Minnesota 4430.5.463.333.6884.51.3.5.012.5
Career 14720.6.415.222.7372.1.9.2.17.7

See also

Notes
  1. "Malik Sealy". NBA Stats. NBA Media. Retrieved May 20, 2014.
  2. "T'wolves' Sealy dies in car crash". CNN/Sports Illustrated. AP. May 21, 2000.
  3. Sandomir, Richard (May 1, 1993). "Sports of The Times; Imus Scores On Turnover By Sealy". New York Times. Retrieved July 17, 2012.
  4. Sealy dies in collision with pickup truck, May 22, 2000
  5. "Malik Sealy's killer admits drinking 8 beers before latest arrest Archived 2009-02-24 at the Wayback Machine", Minneapolis Star Tribune
  6. "Celebrities & Notables - Ferncliff Cemetery Association". Ferncliff Cemetery Association. Retrieved 2017-02-23.
  7. "NBA Retired Jerseys". InsideHoops. 2010.
  8. "Kevin Garnett Profile and Tidbits". GarnetTribute.
  9. "Garnett to wear No. 2 to honor Sealy". ESPN.com. July 18, 2013. Retrieved July 18, 2013.
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