Some great news: TNT sideline reporter Craig Sager is set to leave the hospital after showing significant improvement following a leukemia diagnosis in April, according to his son.
Since Tue, My Dad's White Blood tests have gone from 6>100>220>a 600 just now & HE GETS TO GO HOME TODAY! We can't believe it #SagerStrong
— Craig Sager II (@CraigSagerJr) May 9, 2014
Earlier in the week, Sager spoke out, saying that he's showing "remarkable" improvement in an interview with Bleacher Report's Jared Zwerling:
Tuesday was my best day since I started treatment. I turned the corner, as I'm now building my own white blood corpuscles. All the doctors say I'm doing remarkable, doing the best I can possibly do, no bad reactions. I haven't had any aftereffects from the chemo, and I'm staying healthy. The doctors said that being in good shape is a big factor, and I'm not on any oxygen, all my organs are good, my heart is perfect. So they're very pleased with what's going on.
NBA Playoffs
NBA Playoffs
It remains unclear if Sager will recover in time to work any NBA Playoff games. He told Bleacher Report that he still may need a bone marrow transplant, which would certainly delay any sort of return to the court. Once that happens, he will assess his condition and go from there.
TNT only has a handful of games remaining -- they will televise much of the second round and the Western Conference Finals, but that's it -- so a return this season is still unlikely. Still, the very possibility, however slim, of Sager returning before the end of the postseason is a great sign for his recovery.
Sager was first diagnosed with leukemia after struggling through a Mavericks-Spurs game on April 10. He spoke to the Mavericks' team physician, a longtime friend, who recommended he go immediately to the hospital. News broke about his diagnosis several days later, and many tributes followed.