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Former Oklahoma Sooner and NBA star Wayman Tisdale died Friday morning after a two-year battle with cancer. He died at St. John Medical Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He was 44.

Tisdale played three seasons for the Sooners before entering the NBA. He played for the Indiana Pacers, Sacramento Kings, and Phoenix Suns.

The 6’9” lefty forward averaged 15.3 PPG for his career. He was part of the 1984 US Olympic team that won the gold medal.

Sooners coach Jeff Capel said in a statement, “Wayman Tisdale is one of the best people I have ever had the privilege of knowing. He had an incredible gift of making the people who came in contact with him feel incredibly special.”

Not only was Tisdale a great basketball player, but he was also a very talented musician. After his basketball career, he became a famous award-winning jazz musician. Several of his albums made the top 10 on the Billboard charts.

Governor Brad Henry attended Oklahoma the same time Tisdale did. “Oklahoma has lost one of its most beloved sons. Wayman Tisdale was a hero both on and off the basketball court … Even in the most challenging of times, he had a smile for people, and he had the rare ability to make everyone around him smile. He was one of the most inspirational people I have ever known.”

After breaking his leg in a fall on February 8th, 2007, Tisdale learned he had a cancerous cyst below his right knee. He said that he was very fortunate to discover the cancer early.

After receiving the chemotherapy needed to try to beat the cancer, Tisdale recalled, “The doctor had never given anyone chemo that was my size. They just calculated how much chemo to give me and said, ‘We hope it doesn’t mess up your kidneys. If it does, sorry.”

Last June, Tisdale told the Associated Press, “Nothing can change me. You go through things. You don’t change because things come in your life. You get better because things come in your life.”

Tisdale’s right leg was amputated last August. The prosthetic leg he wore was painted Oklahoma Sooners crimson. He received the Oklahoma City Thunder Community Hero Award on April 7th.

Last month, Tisdale was selected for induction into the National Colligate Basketball Hall of Fame. During his three seasons playing for the Sooners, Tisdale averaged 25.6 points and 10.1 rebounds. He also earned the Big Eight Conference Player title each season. He holds Oklahoma’s scoring record with 2,661 points and rebounding record with 1,048.

Tisdale was the first Oklahoma player to have his jersey number retired in 1997. Two years ago, freshman Blake Griffin asked Tisdale if he could wear his number. Tisdale said yes. This past season, Griffin went on to win consensus national player of the year.

Tisdale is survived by his wife, Regina, and his four children.