Dayton’s Chris Daniels ‘truly missed and celebrated’ 23 years after his death

Antonio Daniels, younger brother of the late Flyers forward, pays tribute to Chris on Twitter

Friday marked the 23rd anniversary of the death of Chris Daniels, who was in the midst of his final season with the Dayton Flyers in 1996 when he died in his sleep of cardiac arrhythmia. He was 22.

Antonio Daniels, who switched to his brother’s No. 33 a week after his death and scored 20 points for Bowling Green in an upset of No. 23 Eastern Michigan, paid tribute to Chris on Twitter on Friday.

» LOOKING BACK: Death of Daniels hard to process for his teammates

“Feb 8, 1996 my older brother, best friend and role model was called home to be with the Lord,” Daniels wrote. “(Twenty three years) still seems like yesterday. There’s not a day that passes I don’t think about Chris and what life would be like if he was here. Know that you are truly missed and celebrated today.

“Today I choose to celebrate YOU and your influence on the lives you blessed. That smile, laugh and sense of humor. Lord knows how much I miss you ... yet I’m truly grateful for the time and memories he gave us together. Your little brother is still striving to make you proud.”

Antonio Daniels played in the NBA from 1997-2011 and now works as a studio analyst for FOX Sports Southwest and SiriusXM NBA Radio. The brothers were from DeSales High School in Columbus. The school has retired both of their numbers.

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