An NBA fan favorite is fighting for his life.
Speaking to the Daily Mail, former New York Knicks guard Nate Robinson revealed that he has been undergoing treatment for renal kidney failure, which he has been dealing with for the last four years. The 39-year-old revealed that if he doesn’t get a kidney transplant, he likely won’t have long to live.
“I know that I don’t have long if I can’t get a kidney,” Robinson told the Daily Mail. “I know I’m not going to have long to live. So I just want to make the best of it as much as I can.
“Some people’s body reject dialysis. And thank God that mine accepts it and I can live… if I didn’t go to dialysis, I wouldn’t live probably longer than a week or two. So it’s serious, can’t miss a day. I go in for four hours, three days a week, four hours a day. And they clean my blood to get my toxins out. And they help me out a lot because that’s how I’m living.”
The 5-foot-9 Robinson was a fan favorite throughout his 11-year NBA career, which spanned from 2005-2015. Despite his smaller stature, the Washington product became well known for his big personality and high-flying ability, as he won the NBA’s Slam Dunk Contest in 2006, 2009 and 2010.
Following the conclusion of his NBA career, Robinson spent time playing overseas, including in Venezuela where he was named the 2017 Venezuelan SuperLiga Grand Final MVP. He first revealed his battle with renal kidney failure via a statement in 2022.
About Ben Axelrod
Ben Axelrod is a veteran of the sports media landscape, having most recently worked for NBC's Cleveland affiliate, WKYC. Prior to his time in Cleveland, he covered Ohio State football and the Big Ten for outlets including Cox Media Group, Bleacher Report, Scout and Rivals.