Good Morning America host Robin Roberts will be the third recipient of the Sager Strong Award when the NBA hands out its regular season honors at the NBA Awards in Los Angeles next month. The Sager Strong Award, named for late sideline reporter Craig Sager, is presented to “an individual who has been a trailblazer while exemplifying courage, faith, compassion and grace.”
The two previous recipients of the award are Monty Williams and Dikembe Mutombo.
Roberts joined ESPN as a SportsCenter anchor in 1990, was also an anchor on NFL Primetime, and became a co-host on ABC’s Good Morning America in 2005. Some of her best known work on ESPN was when she was part of the 6 p.m. ET SportsCenter with Bob Ley and Charley Steiner. Roberts also hosted various SportsCenter specials and most recently hosted the NFL Draft on ABC.
Roberts was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2007 and had myelodysplatic syndrome (MDS) in 2012. In both cases, she received an outpouring of support from both GMA fans and from the sports community.
Over the past few years, Roberts has been recognized within the broadcast industry for her work, and was inducted into the Sports Broadcasting Hall of Fame, honored by the ESPYS with the Arthur Ashe Courage Award, and received a George Foster Peabody Award.
The NBA Awards will honor the NBA’s Rookie of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year, and Most Valuable Player, among other awards. The show will air live from the Barker Hangar in Los Angeles on June 24 on TNT at 9 p.m. ET.
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About Ken Fang
Ken has been covering the sports media in earnest at his own site, Fang's Bites since May 2007 and at Awful Announcing since March 2013.
He provides a unique perspective having been an award-winning radio news reporter in Providence and having worked in local television.
Fang celebrates the four Boston Red Sox World Championships in the 21st Century, but continues to be a long-suffering Cleveland Browns fan.