Malik Sealy Death: The Impact Sealy Had on Garnett!

By Jivika On Nov 5, 2022

Malik Sealy was an American professional basketball player who played from 1992 until his death at the age of 30 in an automobile accident. Sealy spent eight seasons in the NBA, playing for the Indiana Pacers, Los Angeles Clippers, Detroit Pistons, and Minnesota Timberwolves.

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Early Life

Sealy, a Bronx, New York native, was named after noted African American social activist Malik Shabazz, better known as Malcolm X, for whom Sealy’s father had worked as a bodyguard. In his senior year at Tolentine High School, Sealy went 30-1 and won the state championship with future college teammates Brian Reese and Adrian Autry.

Professional Career

Sealy was selected 14th overall by the Indiana Pacers in the 1992 NBA draught.

Sealy averaged 10.1 points per game in 23.8 minutes during his NBA career. He misplaced his playbook as a rookie, and it was turned over to WFAN radio personality Don Imus, whom Sealy contacted on the air in an attempt to get it returned. On December 27, 1999, he made a game-winning reverse putback shot at the buzzer against the Orlando Magic, giving the Timberwolves a 107-105 road victory. On January 17, 2000, he hit a game-winning 3-pointer off the glass as time expired in a 101-100 Timberwolves victory over the Indiana Pacers.

Acting Career

Sealy was also an aspiring actor, playing the talented but selfish basketball player ‘Stacey Patton’ in the 1996 film Eddie, starring Whoopi Goldberg. He also appeared on television shows such as The Sentinel and Diagnosis: Murder. Sealy also designed ties and clothing and was the owner of “Malik Sealy XXI, Inc.”

Legacy

The Minnesota Timberwolves retired Sealy’s #2 jersey in his honour. Kevin Garnett also paid tribute to him by writing “2MALIK” inside the tongue of his Adidas Garnett 3 shoes. On his right arm, Garnett has a tattoo of Sealy’s name. Garnett changed his uniform number to #2 in honour of Sealy after being traded from the Boston Celtics to the Brooklyn Nets in July 2013. Kevin Garnett wore a #2 sweatband on his left forearm during his homecoming to Minnesota on February 25, 2015, in memory of his best friend.

Sealy Dies in Tragic Car Crash in 2000

Malik Sealy had been in the NBA for eight years when tragedy struck on May 20, 2000. Sealy was driving home from downtown Minneapolis after celebrating Kevin Garnett’s 24th birthday when he was hit by a pickup truck driving the wrong way on a divided highway. Souksangouane Phengsene, the truck driver, was found to be intoxicated and sentenced to four years in prison. In 1997, he was also convicted of DWI. (In 2006, after serving time for Sealy’s death, he was arrested and charged with felony drunk driving for the second time.)

Garnett remembered his friend’s constant smile at Sealy’s funeral. Although a funeral is not the place for smiles, Garnett tried his best Sealy impersonation when addressing hundreds of mourners.

“I’m smiling because this is how I remember my man… hundreds and hundreds of times,” Garnett explained. Garnett’s smile quickly faded, and he burst into tears, covering his face. “I’m not afraid to cry, you know?” he finally said.

Garnett stated in 1999 that he had always looked up to Sealy because Sealy reminded him of himself. “I wasn’t the most confident guy at the time, and I was looking for someone who was similar to me.” “I didn’t want the best player, but I wanted someone who played like me,” Garnett said in 1999. “I just related to Malik’s body.”

The Impact Sealy Had on Garnett!

Kevin Garnett needed someone to look up to on the basketball court when he was in high school. He tracked down Malik Sealy. Garnett’s childhood idol was Sealy, and the two eventually became teammates and friends. Garnett once said, “Malik had me wanting to go to St. John’s and wear the red and be a Redman.

“Garnett chose to wear No. 21, which was Sealy’s number at St. John’s, when he joined the Minnesota Timberwolves. When Sealy signed as a free agent with the Timberwolves in January of that year, Garnett and Sealy became teammates. “He asked me to dinner one day,” Garnett explained. “We went out to dinner, and that’s where our friendship began.” I began to confide in him more, talking and opening up to him. It felt great to have what felt like a true teammate around me.”

Garnett wore No. 2, Sealy’s number in Minnesota, after being traded from the Boston Celtics to the Brooklyn Nets. He couldn’t wear No. 2 in Boston because it had been retired in honour of Red Auerbach. Garnett got a tattoo of Sealy’s name on his right arm after he died. “I think everyone goes through something in their lives that shapes who they are in the present, and Malik was that for me,” Garnett said.

Malik Sealy Net Worth

Malik Sealy earns a lot of money from his massive fan following on social media. Check out our UPDATED 2021 Malik Sealy Net Worth, Income, and Salary Information. Malik Sealy’s net worth in 2021 is estimated to be between $1 million and $5 million (Approx.)