The NBA community is mourning the loss of a great sports broadcaster. Craig Sager, the colorfully dressed sideline reporter at NBA games, passed away on Thursday (Dec. 15) after a long and public battle with cancer. He was 65.

The Illinois native started his sports journalism career in 1972 and was making $95 a week as the news director at WSPB - a Braves-affiliated AM radio station in Sarasota, Florida. During his career, Sager would work as a sports reporter for the big networks including CBS, and covered Major League Baseball playoffs, NFL and NCAA Tournaments for ESPN. He was hired by CNN in 1981 and worked as a sports broadcaster at various Turner-produced companies for 35 years, including TBS and TNT.

In April 2014, Sager was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia and took a 11-month absence to fight the disease. While publicly discussing his battle with leukemia, fans went on Twitter to launch the popular hashtag #SagerStrong. He was able to beat the disease into remission, but unfortunately, it returned last March and Sager had to resumed treatment while continuing to work as a sideline reporter on NBA on TNT. But the grueling NBA schedule and constant trips to the hospital for treatments put too much stress on his body. Craig was submitted back into the hospital in November 2016.

"Craig Sager was a beloved member of the Turner family for more than three decades and he has been a true inspiration to all of us," Turner president David Levy said in a statement. "There will never be another Craig Sager. His incredible talent, tireless work ethic and commitment to his craft took him all over the world covering sports."

Upon hearing the sad news of Sager's death, NBA stars as well as big-name rappers went on Twitter to express their condolences to the late sports broadcaster.

"The NBA family lost a legend, who changed the way sideline reporters did their job. RIP Craig Sager," tweeted Lakers legend Magic Johnson. Chicago Bulls player Dwyane Wade posted a video on his Instagram page honoring Sager. He wrote in the caption, "Craig Sager. You lived your life full of love and full of fun. That's how you live your life."

We want to send our condolences to the family of Craig Sager. May he rest in peace.

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