Famed NBA sideline reporter Craig Sager isn't letting cancer take away his joy for covering basketball. A month after revealing that his cancer is no longer in remission, Sager continues to fight his leukemia diagnosis and scrap for all the time he can get.
Sager's doctors recently gave him roughly three to six months to live, though they told him that number could vary widely depending on the person. Sager is still battling cancer, but he continues to grace NBA sidelines as a reporter throughout the NBA playoffs.
Now, Sports Illustrated has enshrined the reporter on the latest cover of its magazine.
According to the cover story, written by SI's Lee Jenkins, Sager continues to maintain a hopeful and optimistic outlook as he faces uncertainties about his life.
"Am I naive? Maybe. Am I in denial? No. I know the severity. But I have faith. I have support. I have hope. Hope is as important as breath," Sager tells SI.
Sager's doctor also makes an appearance, marveling at his resolve throughout a cancer fight that has been complicated by pneumonia, gout and a resurgence of his leukemia after it had previously been in remission.
"A patient who battles this past a year is amazing. What he's done is almost miraculous," says his doctor.
At 64, Sager is content with his life and its accomplishments, but he isn't ready to call it quits: He's slated to provide coverage at this summer's Olympic Games.
