NBA champion left at death's door after 'genetic anomaly' following flu shot

One of the NBA's former champions was left close to death after a 'genetic anomaly' caused doctors to refuse to let him leave their care during a routine check up.

Scot Pollard is incredibly well known in basketball after winning an NBA championship in 2008 with the Boston Celtics, putting aside Kobe Bryant and the LA Lakers with a game to spare.

Although having a more background role in the league, he earned a lot of praise from fans because of his flashy hairstyle and locker room presence.

But it is away from the basketball court that Pollard recent hit the headlines after a sudden turn in his health last year, causing him to almost die.

Pollard during his health woes (ESPN/Youtube)

What happened to NBA champion Scot Pollard?

Pollard's father, Pearl, had also been basketball player and won high school championships in his playing days. Pearl was diagnosed with a heart condition called cardiomyopathy, at the age of 53.

He was placed on the donors list, but due to his height it was going to be difficult to find a heart of the right size. Sadly when Pollard was 16, Pearl suffered a heart attack while driving and crashed his car, leading to his death.

After his playing career, Pollard was diagnosed with the same condition as his own health suffered to the point where he needed serious help.

This was after receiving a flu shot in 2021, that doctors told him released a 'genetic anomaly' and triggering his heart failure.

Pollard's condition worsened after that and he kept visiting the hospital and getting checked to try and find a solution, but after three years it was decided that a heart transplant was the only way to go forward.

Did Scot Pollard know who donated their heart?

In 2024 Pollard's heart transplant was successfully completed.

Organ donation operates under anonymity and the only way you can know the donor is if the transplant patient initiates contact following the surgery. Five months of deliberation led to Pollard reaching out to the donors family, who live in Texas.

He sent a heartfelt letter to his donor's family that read: "My name is Scot, he wrote. I live in Indiana and I'm writing this letter to express mine and my family's unending appreciation for your loved one's gift of life. My wife, myself, our four children, our extended family and friends are all forever grateful!

"We would love the opportunity to meet at some point if you're amenable to that idea. We want to let you know that your loved one's heart is going to be loved and cared for and will give love back.

"We have already begun raising donor awareness in our community and are going nationwide. I've already connected with multiple donor networks in various communities to assist them in promoting becoming a donor. Your loved one is our hero and he will live on forever through me and our efforts of getting more people to be selfless heroes like him.

"If you don't feel comfortable responding, I completely understand. I just wanted you to know my lifelong appreciation for him. He truly is my hero."

Pollard's donor was Casey Angell, and his family responded to the letter.

Al Bello/ALLSPORT

What did the heart donor's family say to Scot Pollard?

Angell lost his life in February 2024 to pneumonia and his family were approached for organ donation. They agreed to it and his heart was given to Pollard, who reached out to them after the procedure.

Angell's family wrote back to Pollard and agreed to meet him and his family.

The letter wrote by Angell's family read: "Dear Scot, thank you so much for reaching out to us.

"Scot, you warmed our hearts with your kind words concerning your donor, who was loved beyond measure. February 16, 2024, was an incredibly hard day for those of us that loved your donor, Casey.

"When we knew that we were going to have to let him go, and were approached about organ donation, there was never a pause or a doubt that Casey would have wanted to help.

"So the answer was simple, and it was a yes. Casey was a loving husband, dad, uncle, and the best baby brother anyone could ask for. Even though he was the baby, he towered over us all.

"Thank you for caring for that big heart of his. And we are grateful to know he is loved and will continue to give love. It means the world to us. He has inspired people in his own family to donate and be a hero like him.

"And we, as his family, though small, would love to meet you whenever you are ready to do so."

The two families spoke over the phone initially before finally meeting each other in March 2025. Pollard also invited Angell's family to Indy 500 Festival Parade where he was the grand marshal