Dwight Howard organizes a blood drive to honor Craig Sager’s fight
The Houston Rockets need a win on Wednesday against the Sacramento Kings in order to clinch a playoff berth and salvage what has been a massively disappointing season. All hands need to be on deck, even against a Kings team resting DeMarcus Cousins and Rajon Rondo, as the Rockets have let too many opportunities slip through their fingers during its 40-41 season thus far.
Sensing this, center Dwight Howard has decided to seize the moment for a chance to do something special. His charity is organizing a blood drive outside his team’s arena in honor of beloved TNT reporter Craig Sager’s ongoing fight with Leukemia.
The drive will take place Wednesday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. CT at the Toyota Center in Houston, prior to the Rockets’ regular-season finale against the Sacramento Kings.
Hosting the blood drive in conjunction with Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center is the Gulf Coast Marrow Donor program. Everyone who donates or attempts to donate will receive a commemorative T-shirt featuring an illustration of Howard and Sager with the hashtag #SagerStrong.
Sager was diagnosed with leukemia just before the playoffs in 2014. He returned to the sidelines midway through the 2014-15 season, but last month revealed that the cancer was no longer in remission.
Thanking “the best treatment in the world,” Sager plans to continue working while fighting his diagnosis. On Tuesday, it was announced that Sager will join Marv Albert ad Doug Collins in NBC’s coverage of the Men’s Basketball Tournament at this summer’s Olympics in Rio.
Here is Howard’s announcement:
“I know a lot of people deal with different types of cancers and leukemia,” Howard said. “Craig is a close friend of mine and our family. He’s a part of the NBA family. You hate to see anybody who is a part of you go through anything. I just want to do whatever I can to help.”
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Kelly Dwyer is an editor for Ball Don’t Lie on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter! Follow @KDonhoops
