A true professional, Sealy was actively involved in a wide variety of charities, including serving on the board of Wheelchair Charities Inc. and the Bronx Police Athletic League. He was a regular visitor to the Ronald McDonald House in Minneapolis and took an active role in various school programs. He ran basketball clinics in conjunction with the Refugee Project at the Camp Hill Summer program in North Carolina.

Sealy was recruited by universities all over the country. He chose to attend St. John's University of New York in order to remain near his family. He played small forward on the St. John's University basketball team. Because of his smooth offensive skills and adaptability on the court, Sealy earned the nickname "Silk."

Sealy won many awards during his college basketball career at St. John's, including the Frank G. Haggarty Award in 1992. He was named All-American and was elected to the Big East Men's Basketball First Team in his senior year.

After graduating from St. John's University with a bachelor's degree in business in 1992, Sealy was the 14th overall draft pick by the NBA's Indiana Pacers. He spent three years with the Pacers, two years with the Los Angeles Clippers and one year with the Detroit Pistons before joining the Wolves as a free agent in 1999.

A member of the Minnesota Timberwolves for two seasons, Sealy was coming off one of his finest seasons of his eight-year career in 1999-2000. He played in all 82 games, the last 60 as a starter, helping the Timberwolves to their first 50-win season.

A self-described "Renaissance Man," Sealy was much more than a basketball player. He started a men's accessories company, Malik Sealy XXI, designing and selling neckties. He opened Baseline Recording Studios in Manhattan in 2000. He also enjoyed acting, appearing in the movie "Eddie" as well as making guest appearances on television's "The Sentinel" and "Diagnosis Murder."

Sealy is survived by his wife, Lisa; their three-year-old son, Malik Remington (Remi), who Sealy affectionately referred to as "my little man"; his parents, Sidney and Ann Sealy; his brothers, Sidney Jr., Dessalines, and Amir; and his sister, Raqiba.