Craig Sager Passes Away at 65

Beloved NBA sideline reporter Craig Sager has passed away at the age of 65, after a long battle with acute myeloid leukemia, according to multiple reports.

In his 26 years on the NBA sideline for Turner Sports, Sager touched the hearts of millions with his unrelenting positivity. He became a household name, known not only for his insight and professionalism, but for his whimsical fashion sense that so reliably earned a smile on sight. He was the goofy father that filled our hearts, rolled our eyes, and comforted us through the highs and lows we were lucky enough to share with him. He will be deeply, deeply missed.

Sager was diagnosed with the rare form of cancer in April of 2014, subsequently missing the 2014 NBA playoffs. His time with us was extended by his son, Craig Sager Jr., whose donation of bone marrow pushed Sager into remission; however, the cancer would make an aggressive return in early 2016. Given 3-6 months to live without treatment, Sager underwent a second bone marrow transplant in July of 2016 and a third in September, but succumbed to the illness on the morning of December 15.

Sager is survived by his wife Stacy, as well as his children, Riley, Ryan, Krista, Kacy, and the aforementioned Craig Jr., who followed in his father’s journalistic footsteps.

The NBA family has suffered a tremendous loss today, and will not soon forget the impact one man made on an entire generation of sports fans. Forever Sager Strong.