National Basketball Association

Gregg Popovich explains why he has such a soft spot for Craig Sager

Published Mar. 23, 2016 6:29 p.m. ET

foxsports

Gregg Popovich doesn't like you, and that's OK.

Technically, Popovich doesn't like anyone. He either loves you or loosely danes your existence out of principle—and that former group of loved ones is a small, elite crew of personalities.

In this inner circle is Craig Sager, who has served as a foil and human target practice for Popovich over the years as TNT's courtside reporter. The disheartening news of Sager's resurgent leukemia sombered moods around the NBA on Tuesday, and his vow to fight his disease as long as possible is a reminder of the type of person Sager is.

In this vein, I present a small, touching vigentte posted by the good folks at HBO yesterday showing Popovich in a rare moment of earnest dialogue during an interview for Real Sports With Bryant Gumbel.

His subject: Sager, the one reporter Pop seems to have a real, human connection with:

He's just been such a genuine person who really does love the NBA and loves the game, and it comes through and you know that. Even though he does what he does design and fashion wise, you know it's part of the shtick. But his questions are always sensible, they're always answerable and he does it with fun. He does it with humor. I react to that very positively. So we have a good time together.

Oh man. It just got dusty in here. So much dust.

Dan is on Twitter. Most of his wardrobe is Sager-inspired.