Craig Sager Has Died at 65

Turner Sports released a statement Thursday afternoon saying that long-time sideline reporter Craig Sager has died of cancer at the age of 65. Sager was diagnosed with acute myeloidleukemia in April 2014, received treatment, and was considered in remission by March 2015, when he returned to the sidelines in his trademark Salvador Dali-on-even-more-hallucinogenics-inspired wardrobe. About one year later, in March 2016, he announced that he was no longer in remission, and that doctors were giving him three to six months to live. He made it nine.

Here is the full statement from Turner president David Levy on the passing of Craig Sager. pic.twitter.com/vOaGMCeXlR
— Tim Bontemps (@TimBontemps) December 15, 2016

Last night, Sager was inducted into the Sports Broadcasting Hall of Fame, alongside Verne Lundquist, Robin Roberts, and Tim McCarver. David Levy, president of Turner Sports accepted the award on his behalf, and gave an emotional speech.

An all-access look at an emotional evening as @NBAonTNT's Craig Sager was inducted into the Sports Broadcasting Hall of Fame! pic.twitter.com/Gyzl1ztWRr
— NBA (@NBA) December 15, 2016

After 34 years in the business at Turner, Sager joined the ESPN broadcast and worked the sidelines of his first NBA Finals last year in Cleveland for Game 6 between the Cavaliers and the Golden State Warriors.

He was a good-natured, beloved member of the NBA community, so much so that even Gregg Popovich said nice things about him. He will be missed.