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The death of Antonio Daniels' older brother Chris has had a profound effect on his life. "I talk to him every night before I go to bed." Daniels said. "He will never leave my memory".

The Daniels brothers grew up in Columbus, Ohio and played at St. Francis DeSales High School. Chris decided to attend the University of Dayton and was the starting center for the Flyers when he passed away on February 8, 1996. The impact of his death was shocking for it's suddenness. He died of a "rhythmic cardiac event," essentially a heart attack. Bowling Green coach Jim Larranaga received a phone call early the morning of February 8th from Antonio's mother Alice. He and then assistant coach Stan Heath awoke Antonio and the trio drove to Dayton to be with the Daniels family. Antonio recalled that, "Coach and my teammates and the fans in Toledo and Bowling Green, did a great job of supporting me. Coach did so much that I don't even think he knows about how he had a tremendous effect on me." The following Monday, the entire team drove to Columbus for the funeral. "That really meant a lot," Daniels said of his teammates support. "That drew me closer to my teammates."

Looming on the horizon was a big game against nationally ranked Eastern Michigan on February 14th, a game that Chris had planned to attend. After an emotional meeting with Coach Larranaga that day, Antonio decided to play. "Emotionally, that was harder for me than anything I have ever had to deal with in my life," Antonio said. "I know that if my brother hadn't been planning to come to that game I probably wouldn't have played. Because he was coming, it made it an easier decision." Falcon fans will long remember the outcome: Antonio's off-balance lay-up on the run with four seconds left to give Bowling Green a stunning 72 - 70 victory over the nation's 23rd-ranked team.

Antonio's older brother meant everything to him. Chris' death has affected him both off and on the basketball court. "It changed my attitude toward the way I think about life and the game of basketball, he said. "It makes you cherish the time that you have here and cherish those you have here also. Once you get attached to someone so much, and then something like that happens, it's just like a big piece has been torn from your heart."

In many ways, Antonio has become a living tribute to his brother. After wearing number 10 throughout his college career, he switched to his brother's No. 33. Even today, playing for the NBA Champion San Antonio Spurs, Antonio wears number 33 close to his heart.

"A lot of things I do now, I think back to what he would have wanted me to do," Antonio said. "There is no way he would have wanted me to quit the game. He would have wanted me to finish what our dream has started."

With an NBA Championship ring and a bright future, Antonio Daniels is on his way to doing just that - and his brother Chris has the best seat in the house.