Sean Elliott

Transplant Recipient, NBA All Star, Patient Advocate

Sean Elliott knows a thing or two about taking on big challenges. As a star basketball player, he was known for his coolness under pressure and his ability to deliver in the clutch. His famous 21-foot "Memorial Day Miracle" shot while falling out of bounds was key to the San Antonio Spurs 1999 NBA championship.

But Mr. Elliott faced his biggest challenge when he was diagnosed with kidney disease, which he publicly revealed shortly after his team's big win. He was saved from imminent kidney failure when he received a kidney transplant from his older brother, Noel. Less than a year later, he returned to the Spurs, making him the first professional athlete to come back after an organ transplant, and proving that recipients could lead active, healthy lives in the process.

Since his retirement in 2001, Mr. Elliott has been a TV analyst and a spokesperson for NKF. He and fellow NBA All Star and kidney transplant recipient Alonzo Mourning continue to call attention to the dramatic organ shortage and the importance of early detection and prevention through numerous media interviews and awareness activities.