It took place sometime in the late 1970s or early '80s, as Williams served as the Philadelphia 76ers' general manager and Daly worked as the top assistant to Sixers coach Billy Cunningham.
"Chuck, you've got to be happy with how the team is playing," Williams said one day.
"Never trust happiness," Daly responded firmly.
Now, eight months after Daly's death from pancreatic cancer, Williams understands exactly what Daly meant. Daly was warning Williams never to feel too comfortable because in professional sports, the possibility of failure looms right around the corner.
Williams has recounted that anecdote in his recently published book Daly Wisdom: Life Lessons from Dream Team Coach and Hall-of-Famer Chuck Daly. Williams conducted over 100 interviews with people who knew the late coach. The result is an expansive collection of 52 phrases Daly often uttered, phrases that convey insight and reveal something about Daly's personality.
Williams, who completed the book with writer Peggy Matthews Rose, calls Daly's sayings "Chuckisms."
"When I finished the whole thing," Williams says, "I came away saying this is not really a sports book and it's not really a basketball book. But it's a leadership book, it's a business book, it's a success book through the life of Chuck Daly."
And what a life it was.
Daly didn't receive his first big break until he was in his early 30s. In 1963, Duke University coach Vic Bubas hired him as an assistant even though Daly was a high-school coach in Punxsutawney, Pa.
After several stops along the way, Daly eventually became the Detroit Pistons' head coach in 1983 and ultimately led the franchise to back-to-back championships.
In 1992, he shepherded the original Dream Team to Olympic gold. The stint fortified his reputation as a master manager of contrasting personalities and outsized egos.
Daly became the Magic's head coach in 1997 following a disastrous season in which players quit on coach Brian Hill. Orlando would become Daly's final stop as a head coach. He guided the Magic to a 41-41 record during the 1997-98 season and a 33-17 record during the 1998-99 season.
Those two seasons strengthened Williams' respect for Daly.
"He had a sensitivity to people even though he wasn't a warm, gushy guy," Williams says. "He knew how to put people together. He knew how to fit them together. Above all, he knew how to get his ego out of the way."
Williams' last extended face-to-face meeting with Daly came almost two years ago. They had lunch together at an Italian restaurant off of Sand Lake Road.
Daly died last year on May 9, shortly after he received his cancer diagnosis. He was 78 years old.
Working on the book helped Williams heal from his friend's death.
"For me to delve deep into his life and track down everybody of significance in his life, it helped me a great deal," Williams says.
And, now, by extension, Williams hopes the wisdom he's collected will help others, too.
Uno Uno?!
Boston Celtics power forward Glen Davis made headlines a when he said before a recent game that he wanted to drop the nickname "Big Baby." Davis said he is trying to mature after recent on- and off-court problems and wanted to take on a new name as he continues to grow. When a reporter suggested that Davis try "Uno Uno," a reference to Davis' No. 11 jersey, Davis seemed to like it. But Davis is singing a different tune now. Asked Thursday by the Orlando Sentinel how the nickname shift was going, Davis said, "I don't think I can shake 'Big Baby.' But when I think about it, I don't want to shake 'Big Baby.' I was just looking for some ideas, seeing what people thought. That's all. But I'm Glen Davis. 'Big Baby.' I'm not going to change that for nothing. I'm just going to stick with what I came in here with."Magic woes
Think the Orlando Magic's tough January has left you stumped? Well, you're not the only one. Former Boston Celtics star and current NBA TV analyst Kevin McHale doesn't know quite what to make of the Magic either. "The Magic have just seemed a little bit funky to me all year," McHale told the Sentinel. "It's just hard for me to kind of figure out what it is, but they've just kind of been funky all year long."Layups
The Cleveland Cavaliers own the league's best record and have beaten the Los Angeles Lakers twice. The Cavs could become even more formidable if they land Phoenix's Amar'e Stoudemire or Washington's Antawn Jamison in a trade. . . . Hedo Turkoglu's stats are down this year, but the former Magic player showed a hint of his old self Sunday when he hit a pair of free throws with 1.2 seconds remaining in regulation to give the Toronto Raptors a 106-105 win over the Los Angeles Lakers. . . . The Lakers' Jordan Farmar enjoyed his team's recent trip to the White House. For him, one highlight was seeing the Obama family's dog, Bo.What's hot
● David Stern: The NBA commissioner suspended Washington Wizards teammates Gilbert Arenas and Javaris Crittenton for the remainder of the season for bringing firearms into their Verizon Center locker room on Dec. 21.● Mike Woodson: Atlanta's coach showed up to the Hawks' game on Monday with his eyebrows shaved off, and his team won in Houston for the first time since Feb. 25, 1999.
What's not
● Richard Jefferson: San Antonio's key off-season acquisition averaged just 9.8 points per game and shot 41.0 percent from the field in his last four games.● Minnesota Timberwolves: The floundering 'Wolves have lost their last five games, including a 33-point defeat to Milwaukee and a 27-point defeat to New York.
Quotes of the week
"Nets win! Nets win!" — Gary Sussman, the public-address announcer at the Izod Center, after the lowly New Jersey Nets on Wednesday notched their first win of the decade and their fourth win of the season, a 103-87 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers"Did we need this? Are you kidding me? I mean we were 3-40. That's not a tough question to answer." — Nets center Brook Lopez after the victory over the Clippers, according to The Associated Press
"Howard gives out far more punishment than he gets, I can guarantee you that. I actually giggle at that when I hear all the 'Howard's getting hit' talk. It's a joke to me. That guy hits more than anybody in the league." — Boston coach Doc Rivers discussing Magic center Dwight Howard
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