TNT’s Craig Sager will join ESPN/ABC’s broadcast of Game 6 of the NBA Finals
Popular broadcaster who is battling leukemia will serve as sideline reporter along with Doris Burke
It’s not often in sports television that competing networks find common ground to gracefully mesh corporate synergy with compassion and respect.
But ESPN/ABC and Turner Sports have found a way to do just that. Craig Sager, the iconic TNT sideline reporter who continues to work despite battling leukemia, will join Doris Burke in the familiar role on ABC’s broadcast of Game 6 of the NBA Finals Thursday night.
“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 in statement. “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.”
It is the first time Sager, who has worked for Turner Sports since 1982, will work an NBA Finals broadcast in his career. Sager will be honored on July 13 at the ESPYS with the Jimmy V Perseverance Award, named for the late college basketball coach and broadcaster Jim Valvano. Sager was diagnosed with leukemia in 2014.
“Craig is an iconic member of the NBA family who indelibly makes his mark on each and every broadcast,’’ said John Wildhack, ESPN executive vice president, production and programming. “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.”
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