NBA to honor former Suns player for his amputee work

The NBA will honor former Phoenix Suns player Wayman Tisdale during All Star Weekend.

This will be Tisdale's first NBA appearance since his recent successful cancer treatment.

Now Tisdale is a Jazz musician but for 12 years he played in the NBA taking a turn on the Suns, Sacramento Kings and Indiana Pacers teams.

He will perform at the NBA Cares & Cooks fundraiser on Saturday, February 14 at 9 p.m.

Also, the Legends of Basketball is set to honor Tisdale with the highly regarded Legends Courage Award at the annual Legends Brunch on Sunday, February 15 at 10 a.m.

Both events take place at the Phoenix Convention Center.

NBA Cares & Cooks is a local food and wine VIP tasting reception featuring award-winning chefs, Basketball Hall of Famers and NBA legends.

Tisdale will perform his Jazz music for the first time, post-cancer treatment, for his former NBA colleagues at this event. This tasting will raise funds for four Phoenix area food banks.

Each year, the Legends of Basketball honors former professional basketball players and luminaries who have gone above and beyond to make a positive impact in the basketball community.

The Legends Brunch features current and past players gathering to honor the history, present and future of the NBA.

Tisdale will join the likes of past Living Legends Award recipients including Magic Johnson, Julius Erving, Bill Russell, Clyde Drexler, Karl Malone, David Robinson, Earl Monroe and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

He will be highlighted as a living legend for his recent work with amputees. Setting a commendable example, Tisdale recently overcame a battle with cancer, which led him to start the Wayman Tisdale Foundation, which counsels and raises funds for amputees.

“It is a great honor to receive this Award not only from the Legends of Basketball, but from my peers. Being able to use my recent experience as an opportunity to help others is something I felt I just had to do. I look forward to sharing this honor with my wife and children, as well as the basketball community,” said Tisdale.

Tisdale is an NBA Great turned respected jazz musician, who has truly forged his own path, from professional basketball player and Olympian to family man and world class musician.

Just as Tisdale captivated fans on the basketball court, he now pleases fans with his bass guitar.

Following his recent cancer surgery, Tisdale continues to inspire fans, friends and cancer survivors alike.

Tisdale’s latest CD – Rebound is his eighth studio album.

For more information about Tisdale, visit www.waymantisdale.com.