May 21, 2000 - Malik Sealy, 30, Minnesota Timberwolves SG:
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. (AP) -- Malik Sealy, the 30-year-old free-agent forward from the Minnesota Timberwolves, died in a car accident early Saturday morning.
"Malik Sealy was a stellar contributor to the NBA, his team and his community," NBA commissioner David Stern said. "This is a tragic day for the NBA family and we extend our sympathy and prayers to his family."
Donnie Walsh, president of the Indiana Pacers, the team that chose Sealy in the first round of the 1992 NBA draft, said "the entire Pacers family is deeply saddened at the recent passing of Malik Sealy. He was a tremendous performer and a true gentleman."
Timberwolves players and players' wives were at Sealy's home comforting his wife, Lisa, and young son, Malik Remington, coach Flip Saunders and team vice president Kevin McHale told the Associated Press.
"This is a sudden and devastating loss to our team," McHale said. "We're in shock. Malik was one of the most popular players in our locker room, and one of the biggest reasons behind our turnaround and success this past season on the court."
Sealy is the second NBA player killed in a traffic accident this year. Charlotte Hornets guard Bobby Phills died after a crash on Jan. 12, when he and teammate David Wesley were racing their Porsches at more than 100 mph after a morning practice.
Sources said a 43-year-old man, Souksangouane Phengsene, was driving a pickup northbound in the southbound lane when ran into the vehicle driven by Sealy. Phengsene was hospitalized in satisfactory condition with head and chest injuries.
The accident happened in a construction zone where southbound Highway 100 narrows to one lane. Authorities had not talked to Phengsene by Saturday night, so the investigation was still in its early stages, said Capt. Al Smith of the state patrol.
Malik Sealy's Range Rover (left) is struck by a pickup truck driving the wrong way on Highway 100.(AP)
Sealy, Garnett and at least one other player had a late dinner at the Monte Carlo Bar & Cafe in downtown Minneapolis late Friday night, manager Tony Rimarcik told the Associated Press. He said a group of about six or seven people had gathered in a separate room, and left the restaurant just before 1 a.m.
Sealy was signed by the Timberwolves as a free agent prior to the truncated 1999 NBA season after stints in Detroit, Los Angeles and Indiana, where he was the 14th overall selection of the Pacers in the 1992 draft out of St. John's.
For his career, the 6-foot-8 swingman averaged 10.1 points. This past season for the Timberwolves, Sealy averaged 11.3 points. More important, he led a 41-19 surge at the end of the season once inserted into the starting lineup as shooting guard. That push helped Minnesota become a sixth seed in the playoffs, where they lost to Portland in the first round.
Sealy was a native of the Bronx, N.Y., and he had a degree in management from St. John's. His father, Sidney, was a Golden Gloves champion and bodyguard for Malcolm X.
