NBA announcer Craig Sager undergoes rare 3rd bone marrow transplant

Sager will have his procedure at MD Anderson

HOUSTON – NBA announcer Craig Sager underwent his third bone marrow transplant for leukemia. It was a milestone procedure for him and one of Houston’s hospitals.

On Wednesday, he let The Associated Press record video during the entire, delicate procedure.

“I think the hardest toll is mentally and emotionally,” Sager said.

All the while, he still made time for celebrity visitors.

“We got to see Sager to cheer him up and by the time you leave you say ‘Is anything wrong with him?’” Charles Barkley said.

He showed the same fortitude during an interview earlier this month.

“If I get my recovery act together I can be back for opening night of the NBA season,” Sager said.

Craig Sager Jr., who previously donated marrow to his dad, used the latest marrow transplant procedure as a chance to also post a plea on Twitter: “Finding a DNA match is reliant on difficult odds. We need awareness and more minorities on the registry to match with minority patients in need."

Sager's opportunity for a third chance of attaining a personal cure came from an anonymous donor, who the elder Sager plans to find one day.

“After one year, if it's successful, the donor has the right to find out who he gave the bone marrow too and I have the right then to contact him, so I’m looking forward to a big reunion,” Sager said.

Sager said he will stay at MD Anderson for a month to recover from the surgery.

Sager was first diagnosed with leukemia in 2014 and announced in March that he was no longer in remission.

Sager II also thanked Barkley, his father's TNT colleague, on Twitter for keeping his dad company in Houston.

Sager is known for his outlandish suits and strong rapport with NBA players and coaches.