Nate Robinson, who played in the NBA for several years and won the dunk contest three times, sounded the alarm about the seriousness of his health situation in a recent interview.
Robinson revealed in April that he needed a kidney transplant after battling kidney failure for several years.
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Golden State Warriors guard Nate Robinson (No. 2) warms up before a game against the Utah Jazz at Oracle Arena on January 7, 2012 in Oakland, California. (Kyle Terada – USA Today Sports)
But the 40-year-old Men’s Health In an interview published Tuesday, he said he feared he would die if he didn’t receive an organ donation.
“I have to be here. I want to be around for the next 40 years. I want to be a grandfather and see my grandkids and take them to the gym and tell them stories about my time in the NBA with ‘Bron and Cobb’ and all those guys. I have to fight for it,” he told the magazine.
Robinson said he has had “dreams” about finding a donor, but rather than inspiring him, the dreams scar him as he begins to think about the process that would follow.
“…We both had to have surgery, and a lot of people don’t make it,” Robinson said. “I hate that someone would have to die to donate a kidney to me and put me through this. It’s so hard on me. Someone has to die so I can live.”
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Tri-State University point guard Nate Robinson (No. 11) during a game at the American Airlines Center in Dallas on August 17, 2019. (Jerome Miron – USA Today Sports)
“I don’t know if I’m ready. In my dream, my family members donated kidneys to me, but they all ended up passing away. That bothered me.”
Robinson remains the same fighter, hitting the gym on his best days and sticking to a strict diet.
“I’m going to be a witness for somebody,” he added. “My story doesn’t end here.”
2022 Playmaker InterviewRobinson said he learned that high blood pressure was affecting his kidneys in 2006, while he was playing for the New York Knicks.
He told Men’s Health magazine that severe COVID-19 symptoms exacerbated his situation.
Former Chicago Bulls player and Stephen A-Team player Nate Robinson dribbles the ball against Team Wilbon during the NBA All-Star Celebrity Game at Wintrust Arena in Chicago on February 14, 2020. (Quinn Harris – USA Today Sports)
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He won the dunk contest in 2006, 2009 and 2010. He played for the New Orleans Pelicans in the 2015-16 season before playing in the Israel Basketball Premier League, the Delaware 87’s of the G League and Guaros de Lara of Venezuela.
Fox News’ Chantz Martin contributed to this report.
