( CNN ) -- Wayman Tisdale , who became a successful jazz musician after retiring from pro basketball , died Friday morning after a two-year battle with cancer , his agent said . Wayman Tisdale greets Shaquille O'Neal during a game November 1 , 1996 . Tisdale , 44 , died in a Tulsa , Oklahoma , hospital , where his wife took him when he had trouble breathing early Friday , agent Scott Pang said . Tisdale 's death was `` a complete shock '' and came as he prepared to return to the recording studio next week to work on a project with jazz guitarist Norman Brown , Pang said . `` He was a real testament to the power of positive thinking , '' Pang said . `` Even after the cancer and amputating his leg above his knee , he never lost that smile on his face . '' Doctors discovered Tisdale 's bone cancer after he broke his leg in a fall down a flight of stairs , according to the official biography on his Web site . `` It really showed me what 's important in life , man , '' he said in his bio . `` It 's not getting as many houses as I can , not driving the biggest cars . What 's important is family and being healthy . '' Tisdale averaged 15 points and six rebounds a game over a 12-year NBA career , during which he played with the Indiana Pacers , Sacramento Kings and Phoenix Suns , according to the NBA Web site . `` He was the nicest man in the world with the biggest heart and an even bigger smile , '' Reggie Miller , Tisdale 's teammate with the Pacers in the late 1980s , said in a statement to the Indianapolis Star . `` I thank him for befriending me and showing me there is more to life than just basketball . '' Sam Perkins , also a former Indiana Pacer and best man at Tisdale 's wedding , told the Indianapolis Star that Tisdale 's enthusiasm went beyond the court . `` That 's a real friend who 's got your back and would do just about anything for you , '' Perkins said . `` That smile just gets you . He was upbeat all the time . '' Former NBA player and coach Avery Johnson told the Indianapolis Star Tisdale was always smiling and had an unbelievably upbeat attitude . `` Every time he came in a room or before a game , he always had that smile , '' Johnson said . `` Now , he would elbow you afterward , but he always had that smile . '' Tisdale was also considered a Sooner superstar during his stint at Oklahoma University . `` Wayman 's one of the biggest reasons why I chose Oklahoma , '' said Stacey King , Tisdale 's Oklahoma teammate and a former Chicago Bulls player . `` I wanted to be part of something special , and it made logical sense to go to OU , because I wanted to pattern my game after him . I wanted to be like him . People used to talk about 'Be like Mike [ Jordan ] , ' but I wanted to be like Wayman . We 've lost a special person . I do n't think there will ever be another Wayman Tisdale . '' His jazz recording career began in 1995 , two years before his 1997 NBA retirement , with a debut CD that rose to No . 4 on Billboard 's Contemporary Jazz chart and crossed over onto the R & B charts , the bio said . Subsequent songs -- including `` Ai n't No Stopping Us Now , '' `` Ca n't Hide Love '' and `` Do n't Take Your Love Away '' -- were top radio hits . Singer and actor Jamie Foxx praised the basketball star 's music career , telling Rolling Stone magazine in 2005 that his all-time backup band would be `` Sheila E on the drums ; Herbie Hancock on the keys ; Earth , Wind and Fire singing backup vocals ; Prince and Slash on guitar ; Randy Jackson on percussion ; Wayman Tisdale on bass ; Kenny G on the sax with Branford Marsalis ; and Wynton Marsalis on trumpet . '' Tisdale is survived by his wife , four children and one granddaughter .
NEW : Former teammates and friends mourn ` ` the nicest guy in the world '' Wayman Tisdale was college and pro football player , later a bassist . He had two - year battle with cancer ; he was 44 when he died Friday . Death called ` ` a complete shock '' ; Tisdale was about to record with Norman Petty .