Scot Pollard, Survivor competitor and NBA champion, gets a heart transplant

A 1997 first-round draft selection, Pollard advanced Kansas to the NCAA Sweet 16 in four consecutive seasons. For the majority of his 11-year NBA career, which spanned five clubs, he was helpful off the bench.

Scot Pollard, the NBA champion and participant on “Survivor,” underwent a heart transplant, his wife announced on social media on Friday night.
“Scot’s heart has changed!” Dawn Pollard used to post on X, which was a Twitter alternative. “I’ve been told the heart is large, strong, and a wonderful fit. The surgery went perfectly! And now for the very important part of healing. We appreciate everyone’s ongoing prayers and support, but we especially want to express our sincere gratitude to the donor—our hero.

Due to cardiac damage from a virus he contracted in 2021—which most likely precipitated a hereditary ailment he has known about since it killed his father at the age of 54, when Scot was 16—Polard, who turned 49 on Monday, required a heart transplant. Finding a donor with a heart large enough to fit Pollard’s 6-foot-11, 260-pound frame was made more difficult by his size. Dawn Pollard announced earlier on Friday that a heart had been discovered.

“We’re about to go!” she wrote on X. “Please continue to pray for Scot, the surgeons, and the donor’s family, who recently lost a loved one. We will always be indebted to this donor for giving us the most incredible gift of life.”
Following four seasons in which he helped Kansas make it to the NCAA Sweet 16, Pollard was selected in the first round of the 1997 draft. Over the course of his 11-year NBA career, which spanned five clubs, he was a valuable big man off the bench. He participated in just 55 seconds of action during the 2007 Cleveland Cavaliers’ run to the NBA Finals. The following year, after suffering a season-ending ankle injury in February, he won it all with the Boston Celtics.

Following that season, Pollard retired and experimented with acting and television. In the 32nd season of “Survivor,” he competed, and on Day 27, when there were only eight castaways left, he was voted off.

Last month, Pollard disclosed his illness to the public and started the process of registering for transplants. On February 7, he was admitted to the Vanderbilt University Medical Center’s intensive care unit.

From his hospital room in Nashville, Tennessee, he texted The Associated Press, saying, “I’m staying here until I get a heart.” “My heart grew softer. “This is my best chance to obtain a heart more quickly,” the doctors concur.

While Tyronn Lue was fined for accusing Golden State officials of cheating

Early in the fourth quarter, Lue was given two technical fouls in a row and was removed following a brief altercation between the teams.
Tyronn Lue, the coach of the Los Angeles Clippers, has been fined $35,000 USD for openly criticizing game officials and casting doubt on their moral character.
The NBA made Lue’s fine public on Friday.

The veteran coach’s remarks to his squad on Wednesday night following the Clippers’ victory against Golden State were the reason for the fine.

Early in the fourth quarter, Lue was given two technical fouls in a row and was removed following a brief altercation between the teams.

Following Lue’s expulsion, the Clippers overcame a big deficit to defeat the Warriors 130-125. Lue was then seen on camera yelling to his players and staff, “Where the refs at now?,” in what appeared to be a semi-public area close to the Clippers’ locker room at Chase Center. Belittling. All they are doing is that.

Lue was reportedly heard shouting, “Where is James? The official. I want to give him a mouthful of kicks.

James Williams was among the trio of referees overseeing the match.
Since the beginning of December, Lue’s Clippers have had a remarkable run, going 28-7 with rookie James Harden and becoming a serious threat to win the team’s first NBA championship.

After guiding the Clippers to three postseason trips and the team’s first-ever trip to the Western Conference finals, Lue is currently in his fourth season as head coach. With LeBron James and the Cavaliers, he won an NBA championship in his first season as head coach in 2016. Cleveland also advanced to the next two NBA Finals.