Bear Down Wildcats

Sean Rooks, who died Tuesday night just hours after interviewing with the Knicks, reportedly suffered a heart attack while eating dinner in Philadelphia.

According to a report by TMZ Sports, Rooks, 46, suffered from heart disease. The gossip website cites a representative for the Philadelphia medical examiner's office in its reporting.

The coroner who performed the initial exam of the ex-NBA player's body "believes Rooks died of heart disease," TMZ reported. Further testing is needed to confirm the finding.

Rooks, a veteran of 12 NBA seasons, interviewed with new Knicks coach Jeff Hornacek, Phil Jackson and Steve Mills on Tuesday. He was a likely candidate to join Hornacek's staff.

"We are all saddened and shocked by the passing of Sean Rooks, especially since we had just met with him yesterday after the possibilities of joining our coaching staff," Hornacek said in a statement. "His ability to work with big players and his passion for coaching were undeniable."

The former University of Arizona star, who was the 30th overall pick in the 1992 draft, was a player development coach with the 76ers. He joined the 76ers organization in 2014 after spending five seasons coaching in the NBA D-League.

The 6-10 center, a New York native who played his high school ball in California, played for seven teams during his pro career.