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Craig Sager to wear Bulls colors in Thursday return

Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports

In one of the most heartwarming subplots of the season, long-time NBA sidelined reporter Craig Sager will make his return Thursday during TNT's broadcast of a game between the Oklahoma City Thunder and Chicago Bulls.

Sager has been off the sidelines for nearly a year after being diagnosed with leukemia in April.

The always-garish Sager had planned to wear an orange linen suit in his first game back, as orange is the official color of leukemia awareness. A combination of his having lost 50 pounds during his illness and the Chicago weather not exactly being welcoming of a linen suit has caused Sager to alter course.

Instead, he'll wear a red-and-black coat - the colors of the Bulls, Sager's favorite team.

"I grew up watching them," Sager said. "My heart goes to the Bulls."

Sager's battle back from the disease, which included getting a bone marrow transplant from his son and a bout of pneumonia, has led to a great deal of support from the NBA community, from rookies on draft night to notorious Sager foe Gregg Popovich.

Thursday should be an emotional return for the Illinois native, who will have friends and family on hand in his own rooting section.

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