Scot Pollard, a former standout at Kansas and NBA athlete, was in the process of having heart transplant surgery on Friday, according to his wife Dawn who spoke to FOX40.com in Sacramento.

Pollard, who spent five seasons playing for the Sacramento Kings, was undergoing the surgical procedure at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, Tenn.

“He’s going to be in the OR (operating room) for another few hours but they are nearing the end of the surgery. Recovery is going to be crucial. This is just the beginning,” Dawn Pollard told FOX40.com.

Scot Pollard, who celebrated his 49th birthday on Monday, has been in the hospital since February 7th when he was admitted to intensive care at Vanderbilt. His heart disease diagnosis dates back to March 2021.

The 6-foot-11 Pollard required a transplant due to an inherited condition likely activated by a virus he contracted in 2021. The same condition led to the demise of his father at 54.

“Please keep the prayers coming for Scot, the surgeons, for the donor and his family who lost their loved one,” Dawn Pollard said on social media. “This donor gave the most amazing gift of life and we are forever grateful.”

During his four-year college career (1993-97), Scot Pollard aided Kansas in achieving a 110-26 record. His teammates included names like Paul Pierce, Raef LaFrentz, and Jacque Vaughn, yet the Jayhawks failed to reach the Final Four during his tenure.

Pollard averaged 9.4 points and 6.6 rebounds in 128 games for the Jayhawks before becoming the 19th overall pick by the Detroit Pistons in the 1997 NBA Draft, kickstarting an 11-season journey in the league.

After a season in Detroit, Pollard spent the years between 1998 and 2003 with Sacramento. Additionally, he played for the Indiana Pacers, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Boston Celtics, winning an NBA championship with the Celtics against the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2008 Finals.

Throughout his NBA career, he maintained averages of 4.4 points and 4.6 rebounds across 506 games, featuring in 99 starting lineups.