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NBA Mourns Pistons Great Chuck Daly

Hall of Famer, 78, succumbed to cancer, a coach to the end

By Kevin Spak, Newser Staff

Posted May 9, 2009 2:24 PM CDT

(Newser) – The basketball world is mourning Hall of Famer Chuck Daly, who died today of pancreatic cancer at 78. Daly is best known as the coach of the “Bad Boy” Pistons teams and the original 1992 Olympic Dream Team. He’s the winningest coach in Detroit’s history, with 467 regular-season wins, 71 playoff wins, and two titles, the Detroit News reports.

“Chuck Daly managed pro athletes better than any coach I know,” said former assistant Brendan Malone. Dennis Rodman, one of Daly's great success stories, referred to the coach as “God” and viewed him as a father figure. Even in retirement, he never stopped being a coach. Before the Final Four, though weak from chemotherapy, Daly took time to send a play to Villanova coach Jay Wright to use against North Carolina.

Chuck Daly coaches the Orlando Magic in a game against the Chicago Bulls in this 1997 file photo. (Getty Images)

Head coach Chuck Daly of the Orlando Magic signals from the sidelines in this 1999 file photo. (Getty Images)

In this file photo, circa 1984, Detroit Pistons head coach Chuck Daly smiles. (AP Photo/file)

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NBA Mourns Pistons Great Chuck Daly

Hall of Famer, 78, succumbed to cancer, a coach to the end

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NBA Mourns Pistons Great Chuck Daly

Hall of Famer, 78, succumbed to cancer, a coach to the end

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OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

cancer • NBA • basketball • New Jersey Nets • Detroit Pistons • Orlando Magic • pancreatic cancer • Villanova Wildcats • Dream Team • Chuck Daly • Brendan Malone • Jay Wright

MOST POPULAR STORIES

[ By Views ]

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More Newser Stories

Knicks Fans Boo Kris Humphries

Resounding ding for Kim's 72-day hubby

LeBron Sweepstakes Begins

And with it the biggest free agent summer in history

Russian Tycoon Buys New Jersey Nets

NBA green-lights Prokhorov's purchase of struggling franchise

Nets End Record 18-Game Skid

Beat Bobcats to exit worst season start in NBA history

Ex-NBA Star Cops Plea in 2002 Shooting

Jayson Williams averts retrial, expected to serve 18 months

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Newser By Users

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