The relationship between Turner Sports NBA sideline reporter Craig Sager and San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich was viewed by those on the outside as combative. The media member was trying to get a quote from the coach but the hard-nosed leader wasn’t letting anyone inside of his thought process. Coach Pop knew how to handle these sideline reporters once it became a thing NBA coaches had to do about a decade ago.
But what some people didn’t know is Pop and Sager actually had a fantastic relationship. Pop and Sager appeared to, if nothing else, respect the other’s craft. Sager, a fixture of the sports media world for over two decades and Popovich a championship coach in the sport Craig loved so much. It was less of a dislike and more of an admiration for each other.
Following Craig Sager’s leukemia diagnosis and subsequent treatment, Pop was a big supporter of Craig and the ‘Sager Strong’ movement. Popovich continued to speak highly of the sideline reporter and when Craig returned, Pop welcomed him back with open arms.
On Thursday, Craig lost his battle with leukemia. The fixture of NBA sidelines for so long passed away and many around the sports world reacted, honoring his life. The one person within the NBA family the possibly delivered the best answer of the day was none other than Coach Pop.
Listen to Popovich talk very highly of his late friend in the video below.
