Former Pistons coach diagnosed with cancer

AUBURN HILLS, Michigan – Former Detroit Pistons coach Chuck Daly has been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.

Daly “is being treated for the cancer and his family is requesting privacy,” the team said on Friday.

Daly coached the Pistons to NBA championships in 1989 and 1990. He also was the coach of the 1992 gold medal-winning US Olympic squad dubbed the “Dream Team.” He was inducted into the basketball Hall of Fame in 1994.

“I wish him the best. It’s a tough cancer to get,” Golden State coach Don Nelson said. “He beat my (butt) probably more than anybody.”

Family spokesman Matt Dobek said in the release that as a coach Daly was “known as the Prince of Pessimism, right now Chuck Daly is the King of Optimism.” (AP)