What happened: Minnesota said it was saddened by Michael Sweetney's death and shared condolences with his family and friends. Sweetney, the former Knicks No. 9 pick, died at 43 in news that surfaced Thursday.

Why it matters: The statement added another NBA tribute as basketball circles continued to react to Sweetney's death. It kept attention on a former Georgetown standout whose name remained familiar well after his playing career ended.

What to watch: More public tributes from teams and former teammates may follow in the coming days. Any memorial plans will show how the league chooses to honor Sweetney.