National Basketball Association

76ers coach says Rooks had promising career before death

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 8:50 p.m. ET

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PHILADELPHIA (AP) 76ers coach Brett Brown says Sean Rooks had promising prospects for his coaching career before his death.

The former NBA center and 76ers assistant coach died Tuesday at age 46, after interviewing earlier in the day for a job with the New York Knicks.

Brown says Rooks meant a lot to many people, and helped young 76ers players by sharing his experiences. Brown says he met with Rooks recently to help him prepare for an interview to become the head coach of an NBA developmental team.

The cause of Rooks' death has not been disclosed.

Rooks had visited with Knicks President Phil Jackson and general manager Steve Mills for an assistant coaching position on Jeff Hornacek's staff. He had spent the past two years on Brett Brown's staff in Philadelphia.