Nick Piccone
Sixers assistant coach Sean Rooks died suddenly today at the age of 46. The cause of death was not confirmed as of this writing, but we’ll update this post as we get more information. Rooks’ mother, Deborah Brown, released the following statement, via Philly.com.
It is with deep sadness and overwhelming grief that we mourn the sudden loss of my son, Sean. Our family asks that our privacy be respected as we grieve during this incredibly difficult time.”
Rooks was a 12-year veteran of the NBA before becoming an assistant. He also did work with the NBA’s Developmental League with the Bakersfield Jam, New Mexico Thunderbirds and Sioux Falls Skyforce. He was on the Phoenix Suns’ player development staff before taking a coaching position internationally. He returned to the U.S. and became an assistant coach for the Sixers in 2014.
TMZ is reporting Rooks may have had a heart attack during dinner in Philadelphia. Hours earlier, he was interviewing with the New York Knicks for an assistant coach position, according to Adrian Wojnarowski.
The Sixers released a statement soon after.
We are deeply saddened by the loss of Sean Rooks. Our thoughts are with the entire Rooks family.”
Co-owners Joshua Harris and David Blitzer released this statement, courtesy of Brian Seltzer:
It is with a profound deal of sadness that we mourn the sudden loss of a beloved son, father and friend, Sean Rooks. Words simply cannot express the heartbreak and shock our entire organization is feeling over this loss.
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.
While he is gone far too soon, we will all hold close the time we were able to spend with Sena here in Philadelphia. Our thoughts and prayers are with his mother, Deborah, and his children, Kameron and Khayla, and all of those who were close to him during this extremely difficult time.”