From NBA wife to nonprofit founder, Dawn Pollard is leading with purpose after her husband Scot Pollard’s recovery.
Scot L. Pollard carved out an impressive 11-year career in the NBA after the Detroit Pistons selected him as the 19th overall pick in the 1997 NBA draft.
The 6-foot-11 center and power forward played for five different teams throughout his professional career, spending significant portions with the Sacramento Kings and Indiana Pacers.
Born in Murray, Utah, and raised across multiple states, including San Diego and Kennewick, Washington, Pollard developed his basketball skills at the University of Kansas, where he graduated in 1997 with a degree in education.
During his college years at Kansas, Pollard established himself as a formidable presence on the court, finishing sixth in Jayhawks history among free throw shooters with 358 made shots, fourth in rebounds with 850, and second in blocked shots with 218.
His professional career proved equally noteworthy, as he appeared in the NBA Playoffs every season except his rookie year.
Pollard reached the pinnacle of basketball success when he won an NBA championship with the Boston Celtics in his final season (2007–08) and also made it to the 2007 NBA Finals with the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Beyond basketball, Pollard gained recognition for his distinctive hairstyles, earning the nickname “Samurai Scot” during his time with Sacramento, and later appeared as a contestant on Survivor: Kaôh Rōng in 2016.
Scot Pollard’s Wife, Dawn, Played A Heroic Role In His Emergency Heart Transplant
Dawn Pollard stands as the devoted wife and steadfast partner of former NBA player Scot Pollard, and their love story spans over a decade of marriage filled with joy, challenges, and unwavering support.
The couple exchanged vows on December 31, 2013, beginning a journey that has tested and strengthened their bond through both celebratory moments and life-threatening health crises.
On their 11th wedding anniversary, Dawn’s heartfelt Instagram post captured the essence of their relationship:
“Time flies when you’re having fun and 11 years married to him flew by in a blink! I look back on our life together and appreciate all of the countless wonderful memories we’ve created as well as the few challenges we’ve overcome that have only made our bond stronger. I’ve loved him for over half of my life and I’m grateful that he is still here to celebrate these milestones with me.”
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The depth of Dawn and Scot’s relationship became most evident during the most challenging period of their marriage.
In 2024, Scot faced a life-threatening genetic heart condition that required an emergency heart transplant.
Dawn demonstrated remarkable strength and clarity during this crisis, recognizing when her husband needed immediate medical attention despite his reluctance to seek help.
She recalled how Scot, who faithfully made her coffee every morning and never stayed in bed, appeared gray, lethargic, and was sweating profusely.
Her quick thinking and insistence on getting him to Vanderbilt University Medical Center ultimately saved his life.
Throughout Scot’s hospitalization and recovery, Dawn remained his constant companion and advocate.
She expressed complete confidence in the medical team at Vanderbilt, stating,
“We knew we were in the best care. We knew that this was the place he was going to get his heart.”
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Her unwavering support continued through his successful heart transplant surgery on February 16, 2024, and the challenging recovery period that followed.
The couple’s shared commitment to helping others has grown stronger through their experience.
Following Scot’s transplant, both Dawn and Scot became organ donors themselves, dedicating their efforts to raising awareness about organ donation.
Dawn has taken her advocacy a step further by creating a new nonprofit organization called Pearls of Life, which focuses on publicizing the importance of organ donation and helping families make these crucial decisions.
Dawn, originally from Colorado, relocated to Indiana in 2013 and has since embraced the Hoosier state as her true home.
She has built a successful career in real estate, working as a luxury agent with Village Estates Realty, which is brokered by eXp Realty.
Her professional expertise covers prestigious areas including Carmel, Fishers, Indianapolis, Noblesville, Sheridan, Westfield, and Zionsville, with property transactions ranging from $160,000 to $2.55 million over the past 24 months.
Dawn’s approach to real estate reflects her genuine passion for people and communication, as she treats every client like family while maintaining meticulous attention to detail and strong negotiation skills.
In Case You Didn’t Know
- Scot was one of six children in a devout Latter-Day Saint family, though he never embraced the religion himself, and his father, Pearl Pollard, also played basketball at the University of Utah.
- After retiring from basketball, Scot pursued acting and appeared in films including “Axeman at Cutter’s Creek” (2012), where he played the titular Axeman, and “Jayhawkers” (2014) where he played B.H. Born.
- During his final NBA season with the Celtics, Scot hosted a segment called “Planet Pollard” on the show Celtics Now, and later joined NBA TV in 2009 and the Indiana Pacers radio crew in 2014.
