Craig Sager is one of few men who can captivate an audience in a short period of time. Whenever you see the legendary sideline reporter on your television screen, NBA fans all over stop what they are doing and listen to the man in the often outlandish suit and marvel at his words. Sager’s sideline skills have been a staple in Turner Sports NBA coverage for 26 years but now he will be taking his talents to the biggest stage in the NBA for the first time. The NBA Finals.
Sager has recently battled cancer and his fight has been the inspiration in many things, most notably the ‘#SagerStrong’ movement on social media. NBA players have stepped up to support Sager on numerous occasions and now more members of the NBA family are coming out to show how much Craig means to the world. ESPN has even done their part and said that Sager will be awarded with the Jimmy V perseverance award at the 2016 ESPY’s. He continues to fight and defy odds one day at a time and is still doing what he does best. Reporting the best NBA news.
The one thing Sager has not done throughout his storied career was cover an NBA Finals game. Now the master of the dazzling suits will grace an NBA Finals sideline for the first time in his career thanks to ESPN. Craig will be the sideline reporter for Game 6 of the 2016 NBA Finals when the Cleveland Cavaliers host the Golden State Warriors.
Following from an ESPN Press Release.
Revered Turner Sports sideline reporter Craig Sager will join ESPN’s NBA Finals broadcast team for Game 6 – Golden State Warriors vs. Cleveland Cavaliers – Thursday, June 16, at 9 p.m. ET on ABC. Sager will share sideline reporting duties with Doris Burke to round out Thursday’s team, which includes play-by-play commentator Mike Breen and analysts Jeff Van Gundy and Mark Jackson.
This unique, one-time opportunity marks the first time Sager has worked an NBA Finals broadcast in his legendary career.
“I’d like to thank Turner and ESPN for approaching me with this tremendous opportunity to be part of The Finals broadcast team,” said Sager. “I’ve been watching the series very closely and, while I do not want to distract in any way from the event itself, I look forward to being in the building for what will be an incredibly exciting Game 6. The NBA community is a very special one and this is a great honor.”
John Wildhack, ESPN executive vice president, production and programming:
“Craig is an iconic member of the NBA family who indelibly makes his mark on each and every broadcast. I know our entire team is delighted to work with Craig for Game 6. We all agree his professional reputation is second-to-none, though it’s his personal reputation – that of class, selflessness and respect – which makes this even more special for our team. We hope that this will be a special night for Craig and for NBA fans. We are grateful for his interest and for the continued collaboration with our friends at Turner.”
