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Sager's doctor: 'What he’s done is almost miraculous'

Soobum Im / USA TODAY Sports

Craig Sager is intent on making medical history.

Having been given a timeline of 3-6 months to live, the 64-year-old Sager continues to resiliently fight acute myeloid leukemia, his doctor tells SI's Lee Jenkins.

"A patient who battles this past a year is amazing," says his doctor Naveen Pemmaraju. "What he’s done is almost miraculous."

His medical team currently has Sager on a grueling clinical trail that includes a combination of chemotherapy and immunotherapy. The hope is that his cancer will be put back into remission so he can receive a third bone marrow transplant.

In spite of his failing health, Sager has continued to work the sidelines. Dressed to the nines with his signature garish whilst toting his unmistakable charm, Sager has appeared in March Madness and on playoff coverage over the past month for TNT.

Pemmaraju warns that working could adversely affect Sager's recovery, but it's the same drive that's carried him through this incredibly difficult process.

"What he’s doing has danger. It has risk. Then again, we talk a lot about the mental aspect. Where do you go for your inspiration, for your drive? For him, it’s this job. If he can’t do it, then that could be harmful too," Pemmaraju said.

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