TV Personality Craig Sager passes away, our NBA Wildcats react

In tragic news, the iconic TV personality Craig Sager passes away after his long battle with cancer. Heartbroken, the NBA reacts to his passing including a few of our Wildcats.

It has been a long road to recovery for the TV personality Craig Sager, and after a long battle with cancer, the world learned of the saddening news when he tragically passed on. Sager was known for his wild and outrageous suits, as well as his infectious personality. He was so beloved that many former Wildcat took to social media to express their heartfelt condolences.

Since starting his commentating career with CNN and its sister stations in 1981, Sager has covered a number of sports, but he was best known for pacing up and down the NBA sidelines.

Sager also became iconic for the loud suits he wore which often brought on the hazing from NBA players and coaches alike. It worked for him, however, and it became the norm anytime you saw Craig on TV.

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In 2014, Sager was diagnosed with leukemia, that forced him to miss the entire playoffs. After a successful bone marrow transplant from his son, Craig Jr., Sager was on the road to recovery, once again, pacing those sidelines in those atrocious or outrageous suits.

In late March of 2016, the leukemia had returned, and even after a third transplant, Sager tragically passed away but not before he got to live out a dream.

Throughout his career, Sager had never worked an NBA Championship game and had been pushing through another eight days of chemotherapy which ended after the fifth game. For the sixth game, Craig was available, and he got his wish. According to CBS news, Sager had this to say:

"“I get this call and they go, you know, ‘Do you want to do the finals?’ and I go, ‘Yeah, I guess, I’ve never, never done the finals,'” Sager recalled. “Especially for somebody who’s done as many thousands of games as I have, it kind of takes you one step further.”"

Sager also got the chance to give the world a message during the ESPYS award show just after the NBA Championship was over. His message? Never give up!

On Thursday, after his passing became public, many who had learned of his untimely death at the start of the NBA season, took to social media expressing their love, support, and sadness.

Instantly the impact of his death sent shock waves throughout the NBA. NBA organizations had players wearing commemorative and colorful t-shirts in remembrance of the loud suits Sager also wore. These shirts were worn just as teams were warming up before tip-off.

As Arizona Basketball has really emerged since the Lute Olson years, there have been a number of former Wildcats who have had interactions with Sager in the NBA.

Some of our Cats took to social media as well, and Steve Kerr expressed his sadness for Sager just moments before the Warriors’ game vs the Knicks on Thursday night.

Kerr’s commemorative speech was definitely heartwarming, it was clear by watching his reaction and the feelings expressed on some of the players’ faces. Kerr said it best. “Nobody had more zest for life, and passion, and joy and passion for life than Craig.” His suits were certainly an expression and representation how he enjoyed and lived his life.

Luke Walton also spoke before his game against the Sixers Friday night according to NBC News Los Angeles::

"“He’s such a part of our game that even though he wasn’t out there playing, you would turn on a TV on a Tuesday night, part of the fun of the entertainment of that we do is seeing Craig in one of his crazy suits, and he’s phenomenal at his job,”“And he just brought something every night he was on TV. It’s sad. It’s sad. We should all mourn his loss and count our blessings for our health.”"

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At Zona Zealots, we are saddened by the news of his passing, it bummed us out. It will definitely be different watching the games without seeing his bright personality on the sidelines. We will always remember Sager’s message to us all: never give up.  Bear Down, Craig, you will be missed!