Steve Patterson, 56; UCLA, NBA Player

Steve Patterson, a center on three UCLA national championship basketball teams and former Arizona State coach, has died from lung cancer. He was 56.

Patterson’s family said he died Wednesday at his Phoenix home. He had been undergoing radiation treatment after being diagnosed with cancer June 30.

“We so appreciate all of the kindnesses extended to Steve, me and the family during this time of struggle,” his wife, Carlette, said in a statement posted on his Web page.

The 6-foot-9 Patterson played at UCLA from 1969 to 1971, after Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and before Bill Walton.

Patterson was a second-round pick of Cleveland in the 1971 NBA draft and played four seasons with the Cavaliers before ending his pro career with the Chicago Bulls in 1975-76.

Patterson coached Arizona State from 1985 to 1989 and had a 48-56 record.

He later served as chairman of the Phoenix area’s Super Bowl committee in 1996 and was hired as commissioner of the Continental Basketball Assn. in 1997.

In recent years, Patterson had focused on youth and community sports programs in Arizona.