Gregg Popovich and Craig Sager shared a great moment during Sager's first game back from treatment last year
screengrab via Youtube
NBA sideline reporter Craig Sager lost a hard-fought battle with leukemia on Thursday. He was 65.
During Sager's years as TNT's sideline reporter, he interviewed countless players and coaches, but none quite as memorable as with San Antonio Spurs' coach Gregg Popovich.
Mostly they followed a familiar script: Sager, dressed to the nines, would try to ask Popovich one question or another about his team's performance during the game. Popovich, in response, would give Sager a quizzical look and rarely answer the questions in more than a word or two - if at all.
But last year, during the middle of Sager's battle with cancer, his cancer was in remission and so he returned to NBA action in early December. As it turned out, Sager's first game back was a nationally televised Western Conference match-up between the Grizzlies and the Spurs.
During the sideline interview midway through the game, Popovich was in uncharacteristically enthusiastic spirits, smiling and laughing and even giving Sager a hug on live TV.
"I gotta honestly tell you that this is the first time I've enjoyed doing this ridiculous interview we're required to do, and it's because you're here and you're back with us. Welcome back, baby," Popovich said. "Now ask me some inane questions!"
The whole video is great. Check it out below:
It was a notable difference from Popovich's usual curmudgeonly rapport with Sager:
Sager will be missed dearly on the NBA sidelines. Among the countless other things he thrived at, no one took on Popovich like him.
NOW WATCH: Kobe Bryant has an insane work ethic
- T20WC broadcasters announce special feed for hearing and visually impaired fans
- Motorola Edge 50 Fusion with 144Hz pOLED display, 5,00mAh battery launched starting at ₹22,999
- Today's Silver Prices (May 16, 2024): Updates for Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, Bengaluru, Chennai, and other Indian cities
- Bridgerton season 3 will be out on Netflix India today! Here’s everything you need to know about the popular period drama
- With over one lakh fresh jobs, hotel industry could revitalise Indian job market in the next 18 months: Report
- Nothing Phone (2a) blue edition launched
- JNK India IPO allotment date
- JioCinema New Plans
- Realme Narzo 70 Launched
- Apple Let Loose event
- Elon Musk Apology
- RIL cash flows
- Charlie Munger
- Feedbank IPO allotment
- Tata IPO allotment
- Most generous retirement plans
- Broadcom lays off
- Cibil Score vs Cibil Report
- Birla and Bajaj in top Richest
- Nestle Sept 2023 report
- India Equity Market