ESPN announced on Wednesday that TNT NBA sideline reporter Craig Sager will join the broadcast team for Game 6 of the NBA Finals between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Golden State Warriors.
Sager has been working for TNT for 34 years and is very popular. He will be working at the NBA Finals for the first time and will work the sidelines along with Doris Burke, according to ESPN. Mike Breen will do play-by-play with Jeff Van Gundy and Mark Jackson providing analysis.
"I'd like to thank Turner and ESPN for approaching me with this tremendous opportunity to be part of The Finals broadcast team," Sager said in a 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."
Burke, in a video message to Sager that was released by ESPN said, "Welcome to our team. It's our honor."
Sager was diagnosed with acute leukemia in 2014, and has been battling the disease ever since. He revealed that his cancer was no longer in remission in an HBO interview earlier this year. In March, 2015 he returned to TNT’s NBA coverage despite the fact that he was still battling leukemia. He worked the playoffs despite have chemo treatments during that time. He will be given the Jimmy V Perseverance Award at this year’s ESPYS.
The Warriors lead the series 3-2. Game 6 is Thursday night.