Craig Sager at the 2016 NBA Finals in June (Getty)
With colleague Craig Sager passing away Thursday afternoon from a rare form of leukemia, Thursday night’s doubleheader was the first time since that the “Inside the NBA” crew would be on television. While Ernie Johnson was not present on the set in Atlanta as he was caring for an ill family member, Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith and Shaquille O’Neal all offered their words on what Sager meant to them.
Chuck, Kenny and Shaq remember their colleague and close friend, Craig Sager #SagerStrong t.co/pfuoBgi2FW
Johnson narrated a tribute video that was shown just before Barkley, Smith and O’Neal spoke on the death of their friend and colleague.
We are forever #SagerStrong
The TNT play-by-play crew of Brian Anderson, Reggie Miller and Dennis Scott, working the game between the Chicago Bulls and Milwaukee Bucks, shared their thoughts on Sager’s life and his impact on others prior to tipoff.
Brian Anderson, @ReggieMillerTNT and @3Deezy remember Craig Sager before the game #SagerStrong t.co/DCpakEIydR
Also paying tribute to Sager, albeit not on TNT, was San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich. Well known for his disdain of in-game interviews, Popovich had multiple memorable exchanges with Sager over the years. Prior to the Spurs’ game in Phoenix, Popovich discussed the life of his longtime friend but was too emotional to take questions from the assembled media.
Also speaking on Sager’s passing were Kevin Garnett and Chris Webber on Garnett’s “Area 21” set, with both also speaking about the late Flip Saunders. Saunders passed away from cancer in October 2015, and he was Garnett’s head coach with the Minnesota Timberwolves during both of Garnett’s stints with the franchise.
“Never take a day for granted.” KG & C-Webb celebrate the legacy of their late friends, Flip Saunders & Craig Sager t.co/2FsMl7THPa
Garnett, Webber and Smith also had a segment prior to the TNT broadcast in which they shared their memories of Sager, and Garnett’s classic interview in which he advised Sager to burn the suit he was wearing.