Former Phoenix Suns forward Alton Ford passed away Monday after a lengthy battle with cancer, the University of Houston confirmed Tuesday.

“The Suns organization is saddened this morning by the passing of former Suns forward, Alton Ford, who was a beloved teammate and friend to many during his two seasons in Phoenix,” the team posted on Twitter. “We share our deepest condolences with Alton’s friends & family during this difficult time.”

Ford was drafted 50th overall by the Suns in second round of the 2001 NBA Draft.

He spent two seasons with Phoenix, playing in 64 games, before appearing in nine games for the Houston Rockets in 2003-04.

Ford averaged 2.7 points and 1.7 rebounds with the Suns.

Following his time in the NBA, Ford played overseas for five seasons before playing in the NBA D-League until his 2011 retirement.

Before his time in the NBA and overseas, Ford played collegiate ball for the Houston Cougars where he averaged 10.8 points and 5.9 rebounds per game.

Follow @AZSports