Craig Sager passes away at 65

Famed Turner Sports broadcaster Craig Sager has passed away at 65. Sager had been battling acute myeloid leukemia for years, and while he bounced back to work the NBA All-Star Game in February, he was given a rough prognosis in March.

He was able to work the sidelines for Game 6 of the NBA Finals on ABC in June and receive the Jimmy V Perseverance Award from Vice President Joe Biden at the ESPYs in July, but had to miss the Olympics for a rare third bone marrow transplant back in August. Sager stayed positive after that, though, and he saw his longstanding bet that the Cubs would win the World Series pay off, but his fight ended Thursday.

Here’s a statement on Sager’s passing from Turner Sports president David Levy:

pic.twitter.com/PybrwHSNDh

— TNT Sports U.S. PR (@TNTSportsUS) December 15, 2016

Here’s the speech Sager gave at the ESPYs in July:

Sager was just inducted into the Sports Broadcasting Hall of Fame this week. He wasn’t able to attend, but the NBA released a video of comments about him from the ceremony:

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

Sager left a huge mark on the NBA in particular, and everyone from the Warriors to the Spurs to his TNT colleagues paid him tribute opening night this year.

There will undoubtedly be many more tributes in the days ahead, as Sager left a tremendous mark on not just basketball, but on broadcasting and sideline reporting in general. He also made a huge impact on his family, as his son, Craig Jr., showed in a thoughtful tribute Thursday.

https://twitter.com/CraigSagerJr/status/809498403310800896

Our thoughts are with Sager’s family and friends.