Comments from around the game of basketball on Daly

"Chuck Daly was known best for the outstanding work he did on the sidelines -- from guiding the Detroit Pistons to back-to-back NBA championships to leading the Dream Team to the gold medal at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics. But Chuck did much more than coach basketball games. He positively impacted everyone he met, both personally and professionally, and his love of people and the game of basketball helped develop the next generation of coaches. The void left by his death will never be filled. The NBA family extends its sympathy to his wife Terry, daughter Cydney, grandchildren Sebrina and Connor, and Chuck's entire family."
-- NBA commissioner David Stern.

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"Chuck's legacy will live on with all of the people he touched throughout his Hall of Fame career. He was a wonderful coach, mentor and friend to all of us."
-- Joe Dumars, the Pistons president of basketball operations who played for Detroit under Daly.

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• Official release | Daly remembered by colleagues | Stern's statement • PETERSON: Daly blazed trail for other coaches • PHOTO GALLERY: Daly through the years • CHUCK DALY VIDEOS: - Huber: Remembering a legend - Chuck Daly: 1930-2009

"He was a mentor, a father figure, someone we all looked up to in everything he did. I can't explain in words how much he gave me as a player and a man. This is an immeasurable loss for the NBA and the entire basketball world."
-- Isiah Thomas, former Pistons player and New York Knicks coach and president, who now coaches at Florida International University.

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"I never understood how a great man, a nice guy coached the Bad Boys."
-- Charles Barkley, who played on the Dream Team under Daly.

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"Back in the '80s, if anybody would've said that some guy would come along and convince the basketball world that defense was the pathway to winning championships, there would've been a lot of second guessers. His Detroit team redefined basketball at that time."
-- Dallas coach Rick Carlisle, the president of the National Basketball Coaches' Association, which has dedicated this postseason to Daly.

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"Chuck was a great leader. I only wish I could have played for him outside of the Dream Team."
-- Michael Jordan.

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"He gave me a tremendous opportunity to learn from him in 1992 as a member of the Dream Team coaching staff and for that, I am eternally grateful. There was no better ambassador for the game of basketball than Chuck Daly."
-- Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski.

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"He was a man of incredible class and dignity. He was a mentor and a friend. He taught me so much and was always so supportive of me and my family. I loved him and will miss him."
-- Doug Collins, former Pistons and Chicago Bulls coach.

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"In the heat of those battles, Chuck was always a friend of coaches. A good guy. He was always in the coaching fraternity and always extended a friendly hand."
-- Los Angeles Lakers coach Phil Jackson, who coached the Michael Jordan-led Chicago Bulls against Daly and the Pistons.

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"I thought he was a genius at making complicated things seem very simple. ... Losing him now is going to be a big void to me. He was special to the game. But more importantly, he was a great guy to be around."
-- Celtics coach Doc Rivers.

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"He gave so much to our organization, no words or awards would fully acknowledge all he did. His legacy and impact on basketball players and coaches covered all levels -- high school, college, the NBA and of course internationally. His impact in international basketball is immeasurable."
-- USA Basketball executive director Jim Tooley.

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"Whenever he spoke of Penn and the Philadelphia basketball community he spoke of it fondly. However, such was his stature that this is a loss not just for Penn and the city of Philadelphia, but for the entire basketball world."
-- Penn coach Glen Miller.

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"I think he raised the esteem of NBA coaches. I think because of a guy like Chuck Daly, people started to think of coaches in the NBA in a better light."
-- Orlando Magic coach Stan Van Gundy.

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"After all the battles the Celtics had against the Pistons I always had the utmost respect for Chuck as a coach and a person. In the '92 Olympics he handled that team and its talent as well as anybody could. He treated us all with respect and had us all vying for the same goal. For me, it was an honor to play for him."
-- Larry Bird, former Boston Celtics great and current Pacers president of basketball

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"On behalf of the entire Philadelphia 76ers organization, we would like to pass along our deepest and sincerest condolences to the Daly family during this difficult time.

"On a personal level, the experience I had playing for Coach Daly during my four years at the University of Pennsylvania was invaluable, and I still carry with me the lessons he taught both on and off the court.

"Chuck's contributions to our franchise, city and the game of basketball as a whole will have a lasting impact, but the relationships he developed with his family and friends will endure forever."
-- Ed Stefanski, Philadelphia 76ers president and general manager

The Associated Press contributed to this report.