Former NBA Player Scot Pollard in Desperate Need of Heart Transplant

Scot Pollard, a former NBA player who earned a championship ring with the Boston Celtics in 2008, is currently in a dire predicament as he awaits a heart transplant. Pollard, who stands at a towering 6-foot-11, has been admitted to Vanderbilt University Medical Center’s intensive care unit in Nashville. Due to his remarkable size, finding a donor with a heart big enough to supply blood to his body is proving to be a challenge.

The 48-year-old former athlete revealed that his heart has weakened, and doctors believe a heart transplant is his best chance of survival. Pollard, who was diagnosed with a genetic condition, contracted a virus in 2021 that further deteriorated his heart. Unfortunately, his size exacerbates the difficulty of finding a suitable donor. Half of his siblings also suffer from the same genetic condition, and their father succumbed to it when he was only 54 years old.

Pollard’s awareness of his condition dates back to his teenage years, following his father’s death. Reflecting on his own mortality, he acknowledges that being tall has its drawbacks. He stated, ‘You don’t see a lot of old (7-) footers walking around. So I’ve known that my whole life… I’m not going to see 80.’

Pollard, who played for the Indiana Pacers and other NBA teams over 11 seasons, retired from professional basketball in 2009. He dabbled in broadcasting and acting, and even competed on the reality show Survivor. However, it wasn’t until three years ago that his condition began to significantly impact his daily life. Walking feels like an uphill battle, and he struggles with frequent breathing difficulties.

Prior to being admitted to the intensive care unit, Pollard explored various treatments to improve his health, including ablations to treat his irregular heartbeats. However, health experts have concluded that more ablations and medication won’t provide a lasting solution. He now awaits a heart transplant.

As a patient in need of a transplant, Pollard faces the challenge of navigating the organ transplant system. In order to increase his chances, he has registered at multiple transplant centers and traveled extensively for testing. Currently at Vanderbilt, he remains in the ICU, hoping for a suitable heart donor to come forward.