76ers coach says Rooks had promising career before death

FILE - In this Saturday, April 7, 2001 file photo, Los Angeles Clippers' Sean Rooks fends off San Antonio Spurs defenders Antonio Daniels and Samaki Walker, right, during the first half of a basketball game in Los Angeles. Former NBA center and Philadelphia 76ers assistant coach Sean Rooks has died. He was 46. The team released a statement from Deborah Brown, the mother of Rooks, on Tuesday night, June 7, 2016. (AP Photo/Jill Connelly, File) FILE - In this Saturday, April 7, 2001 file photo, Los Angeles Clippers' Sean Rooks fends off San Antonio Spurs defenders Antonio Daniels and Samaki Walker, right, during the first half of a basketball game in Los Angeles. Former NBA center and Philadelphia 76ers assistant coach Sean Rooks has died. He was 46. The team released a statement from Deborah Brown, the mother of Rooks, on Tuesday night, June 7, 2016. (AP Photo/Jill Connelly, File)

By Associated Press June 8, 2016 2 min read

PHILADELPHIA (AP) – 76ers coach Brett Brown said Wednesday that 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 said Rooks meant a lot to many people.

“Sean Rooks was a wonderful person with a kind soul who deserved to live longer than he did,” Brown said. “Sean was with me for two years and helped our young players and coaching staff by sharing his experiences in such an endearing way.”

Brown says he met with Rooks recently to help him prepare for an interview to become the head coach of an NBA developmental team.