Comments on loss of former Pistons coach Chuck Daly

Comments on the death of Chuck Daly, who coached the original Dream Team to the Olympic gold medal in 1992 after winning back-to-back NBA championships with the Detroit Pistons. He died Saturday in Jupiter, Fla. at the age of 78.

"The Daly family and the entire Detroit Pistons and Palace Sports and Entertainment family is mourning the loss of Chuck Daly. Chuck left a lasting impression with everyone he met both personally and professionally, and his spirit will live with all of us forever." -- family and Detroit Pistons spokesman Matt Dobek.

"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.

"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." -- NBA commissioner David Stern.

"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.

"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.

"He did an unbelievable job of taking a bunch of different personalities and molding them into a team." Rick Mahorn, who played for Detroit under Daly.

"Coach Daly not only set a standard for coaching excellence in our community with the Pistons but throughout the basketball world. He will always be remembered as a champion on and off the court." -- Detroit Lions president Tom Lewand.

"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.

"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.

"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.

"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." -- Philadelphia 76ers president Ed Stefanski.

Mr. Daly, with what he was able to bring to Detroit and his legacy, it was like Scotty (Bowman, the former Detroit Red Wings coach). They earned the right to be special." -- Red Wings coach Mike Babcock.

"He had an incredible career and the times I've met him, he's been extremely gracious and helpful in my career and development." -- Lakers player Kobe Bryant.

"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. Not only because he was a great coach and he'd done it at the college and NBA level, but he carried himself with such great class at all times." -- Orlando Magic coach Stan Van Gundy.