J-Speaks: NBA’s Best Sideline Reporter Returns

There are a number of great sidelines reporters in the National Basketball Association. The likes of Heather Cox, Lisa Salters, J.A. Adande and Israel Gutierrez for ESPN to name a few. Neither one of them though come close to who many consider one of the best to ever do it. While his wardrobe leaves a lot to be desired sometimes, he ask the best questions and gets the best answers and has been doing it for over three decades. After nearly a year away from the sidelines to battle leukemia, Turner Network Television’s (TNT) top notch sideline reporter returned.

Last Thursday night, Emmy-Award winning sideline reporter Craig Sager returned for NBA on TNT’s telecast of the Oklahoma City Thunder versus the Chicago Bulls after an 11-month battle with acute myeloid leukemia, which shelved him for the entire 2014 NBA postseason.

He was in rare form in terms of his wardrobe as he wore a red, black and gray plaid jacket with matching Nike shoes, matching the colors of the Bulls.

It was the first game for the 63-year-old Sager since Apr. 10 in Dallas where he fell ill and received treatment from Mavericks’ team physician Dr. Tarek O. Sourval, who had performed knee surgery on Sager.

It was discovered that Sager had a low hemoglobin count and he had to receive six blood transfusions over the next 24 hours before he returned to Atlanta, GA.

“It’s not just the game. It’s the people,” Sager said in an interview about what he missed most. “The NBA is such a family. It try to get there three hours before the game, talk with the ushers and the security guards, the coaches and the fans…I just missed the whole atmosphere. I like being there.”

Sager received a bone marrow transplant from his son Craig Sager, Jr. and had spent some of his absence in isolation.

Among those to reach out to show support for Sager were NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, Minnesota Timberwolves’ forward Kevin Garnett--who has ragged Sager on his wardrobe over the years and Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich--who has over the past few years has had the most memorable sideline interviews.

In Game 2 of the Spurs first round series versus their interstate rival Dallas Mavericks on Apr. 20, 2014, Sager, Jr. worked the sidelines during that game and interviewed Popovich between the third and fourth quarters to air a special get well message to Sager, Sr. The entire NBA on TNT crew from the broadcast commentators to the sideline reporters wore suits similar to Sager from the past as a special tribute to him. Many of the coaches during between quarter interviews on that same day each expressed their get well wishes to Sager.  

Sager, a 34-year veteran sideline reporter with Turner Sports who had never missed a day of work before his battle with leukemia, hoped to return for last fall’s baseball postseason, but a bout with pneumonia put a dent in those plans.

When he did make his return to the sidelines this past Thursday he looked in rare form in his aforementioned attire and the Thunder and Bulls players, coaches and all those in attendance at the United Center were happy to have him back.

During TNT’s pregame “NBA Tip-Off” presented by Autotrader.com, Sager received several welcome back greetings from Thunder lead guard Russell Westbrook, Popovich, Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade, who sported a purple suite in honor of Sager and Mavericks owner Mark Cuban. Sager also received many more congrats on Twitter and Instagram.

One of those well wishes came from Cleveland Cavaliers star LeBron James, who said on Instagram, “Miss you very much Craig!!!!! Welcome back and can’t wait to see u. Been too long. #SwagChamp Haha!”

“Welcome back! Were thrilled to have you here. We appreciate you wearing our team colors tonight. It’s great to see you. You’ve been a great inspiration to a lot of people for the way you fought through everything. Your courage. Your determination. I think it inspired all of us. Were excited. Your home,” Bulls’ head coach Tom Thibodeau said to Sager in an interview before the game.

Sager received a standing ovation from the United Center crowd as the Bulls played a video tribute and the Bulls’ mascot Benny presented him with a signature jacket in the Bulls’ colors of red and black.

You never know how much something means to you until it is no longer there. The absence of Craig Sager from the NBA left a major hole in the league. When the Northwestern graduate and Batavia, IL native returned this past Thursday, it was like order was restored to the NBA and pro sports world.

It is also a great testament to the sheer will and determination of Sager to get back to doing something that he loved to do and was well respected for it. Four people who really understand that more than anything are Sager’s colleagues of “Inside the NBA” in Ernie Johnson, Kenny Smith, Charles Barkley and Shaquille O’Neal as well as the commentators for the game of the Thunder versus the Bulls Kevin Harlan and Steve Smith.

Along with his colleagues at Turner Sports, Sager’s wife Stacey, a former Bulls dancer and their five children, including Sager, Jr. were there every step of the way.

As far as the game itself, the Bulls came from behind in the fourth quarter to win the game 109-105 and reserve guard E’Twaun scored 13 of his career-high 19 points in the fourth quarter to lead the way, including hitting the eventual game-winning three-pointer with 2.1 seconds left.

It was a great night in the “Windy City” as the Bulls defeated the surging Thunder, without the starting backcourt of Derrick Rose and Jimmy Butler, who were out because of injury. Westbrook who came into the contest with four-straight triple-doubles, the most in 26 seasons had 43 points, seven assists and eight boards in defeat. Most of all, the 21,696 at the United Center and many others watching on television saw the return of one of the best sideline reporters in pro sports that is great at his profession as well as respected by his colleagues, the fans, NBA coaches and players.

“I’m very grateful for my health and the fact that I am back,” Sager said. “I feel great.”

Information, statistics and quotations are courtesy of 3/05/15 nba.com post “TNT reporter Sager returns from leukemia to sidelines; www.nba.com/video; 3/05/15 8 p.m. NBA on TNT Tip-Off pregame presented by Autotrader.com with Ernie Johnson, Kenny Smith, Charles Barkley and Shaquille O’Neal;” 3/06/15 article, “Craig Sager Receives Warm Welcome Back, Standing Ovation After Long Battle With Cancer,” by Lucy McCalmont of “The Huffington Post;” en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Craig_Sager.