Nate Robinson played 11 seasons in the NBA (2005-16), yet after retirement he has faced some serious health problems. That is to say, the 40-year-old experienced kidney failure going all the way back to 2018, and he still is looking for a donor to save his life.
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Robinson sat down with Men's Health to talk about his need for a new kidney, and how he is currently facing a dire situation.
Men's Health's writer, Tyler R. Tynes stated, "He [Robinson] tells me that if he doesn't get a kidney soon, death is the next door he will walk through."
Apparently, Robinson spent almost his whole career with kidney disease, as he was diagnosed in 2006. However, the slam dunk champion overlooked the warning signs, saying he never suspected to have his kidneys fail in his mid 30's.
Six years ago, Robinson started dialysis treatment, as his kidneys are functioning less than 15 percent of their optimal capacity. Considering this, the daily symptoms that the former NBA player has to go through include: body cramps, vomiting, and shortness of breath.
The Seattle native and former University of Washington player hopes to get on the state's kidney-transplant list soon.
"I gotta stick around. I want to stay alive for the next 40 years: be a grandpa, see my kids' kids, take them to the gym, tell them the stories of when I was in the NBA around [LeBron James] and [Kobe Bryant] and all these guys. I gotta fight for it," he told the magazine.
"I've never been a quitter," he says. "And I ain't gon' start now."
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Throughout his career, Robinson played for eight different teams, most notably for the New York Knicks (2005-2010). During 11 seasons, Robinson averaged 11.0 points (42.3% FG; 36.0% 3PT), 3.0 assists, 2.3 rebounds, and 0.9 steals in 22.5 minutes per game.
The 5-foot-9 point guard was most well-known for being a 3x NBA Slam Dunk Contest champion (2006, 2009, 2010).
Related: The 10 Best NBA Dunk Contest Winners, Ranked
