Wayman Tisdale, NBA Legend, Dies

Wayman Tisdale, a former NBA player and Olympian, has died. Tisdale passed away Friday following a battle with cancer. He was 44 years old.

Wayman Tisdale Death

Wayman Tisdale had been fighting cancer for the past two years. He first learned of his illness after a fall on a staircase shattered his leg bone, sending doctors a signal that something was amiss. Physicians soon found a cancerous cyst below the right knee. Tisdale had to have his leg amputated last August as a result of the disease.

Wayman Tisdale: 1964 – 2009

Wayman Tisdale was a three-time All American at Oklahoma and went on to play 12 seasons in the NBA. He played with the Indiana Pacers, the Sacramento Kings, and the Phoenix Suns. At 6 feet, 9 inches, Tisdale was a tough part of the team to miss. He joined the U.S. Olympic team that took home the gold medal in 1984.

Following his basketball career, Wayman Tisdale turned to jazz, creating several records which made it into the Billboard’s top 10 listings.

Wayman Tisdale was inducted into the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame just last month. He leaves behind a wife and four children.