The adage, "Adversity does not build character; it reveals it" proved itself true in the case of Craig Sager. Not just in the man himself, but in the support from his NBA brethren.
The sideline reporter for the NBA on TNT, known for his bold choices in business suits, has been battling leukemia for nearly two years, according to USA Today Sports' For the Win. His son, Craig Jr., first reported his father's condition on his Twitter account.
Craig Sager's Son Reports Broadcaster's Leukemia Has Returned
The elder Sager battled the disease and made his return to television after 11 months, but less than a month later the disease returned, his son tweeted, via For the Win.
But Sager is back again, and will be working the NBA's All-Star Weekend this year after missing 2015, according to Awful Announcing. He had to undergo chemotherapy 24 hours a day for two weeks straight to help him recover.
Craig Sager Jr. Runs 10K One Day After Donating Bone Marrow To Dad
One of the revelations made during Sager's battle has been the outpouring of support for the veteran broadcaster.
"The first person to send flowers was Kevin Garnett," Sager told Awful Announcing. "The day I was diagnosed, April 10th, 2014, I got flowers at home -- the most beautiful bouquet you can imagine -- from Kevin Garnett and his family. The Commissioner (Adam Silver) was going through all those problems with the Clippers ownership and Donald Sterling, and he calls me, and I go 'you don't have time to call me!'
"And he goes, 'yes I do, you're as big as anybody'. And I told him, 'I appreciate your concern, but please do your job'. Coach Popovich reaching out, and the fans, and Bob Delaney, head of the referees, actually came to my house just to see me. It was unbelievable."
So while it was Sager's ability to build relationships with players, coaches and NBA executives throughout his career, the revelation came in the outpouring of support for the reporter, which makes him one of the most valuable commodities in the league.
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