SUMMARY
- Former NBA player Nate Robinson opened up that he has been battling renal kidney failure and undergoing treatment in 2022.
- Nate Robinson was drafted into the NBA in 2005 after being picked by the Phoenix Suns and was traded to the New York Knicks on the same night.
Nate Robinson is a widely renowned name in the NBA. He had an incredibly successful career that lasted more than a decade and Robinson’s contributions have been noteworthy. This former basketball player’s journey was filled with laurels and he took each team he was a part of to greater heights. Unfortunately, his journey took a heartbreaking turn as he was diagnosed with renal kidney failure.
Back in 2006, Robinson got to know that he has high blood pressure which is one of the leading causes of Kidney failure. Notably, renal kidney failure which he is currently battling is the last stage of kidney failure. In chronic kidney disease (CKD), the kidneys are damaged but can perform. On the other hand, in renal failure, the kidneys are fully damaged and unable to function.
Furthermore, in an interview with Playmaker, the former player candidly spoke about his journey with kidney disease. He made a bold statement as he said, “I wouldn’t trade it [kidney disease] for the world. This is my story, and this is my journey.” Robinson continued to talk about how he wants to be a living testimony to other people, especially kids that they are not alone and can get through this.
Additionally, the veteran NBA player revealed that he used to be told that his blood pressure needs to be checked before the game. If it turns out to be high, then he can’t play the game. “I used to tell them, ‘Don’t check my blood pressure because I am playing regardless of what you say.'” Robinson was young and invincible, he did not know that the disease would eventually catch him.
Nate Robinson has been battling renal kidney failure since 2018
After privately dealing with renal kidney failure for four years, Nate Robinson came forward to share that he is battling and undergoing treatment in 2022. The Athletic reporter Shams Charania was the first one to break this news. He took to his ‘X’ (formerly known as Twitter) account to share the statement made by the former NBA star and it stormed the internet.
11-year NBA veteran Nate Robinson – a three-time Slam Dunk Contest champion – announces he is battling renal kidney failure and is undergoing treatment. 🙏🏽 pic.twitter.com/VICvjXOW7k
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) October 16, 2022
Robinson stated that he has been dealing with it privately but sharing it now as he wants to be the voice for all those who are having trouble speaking about the illness. “I was never a vocal leader on the court, I preferred to lead by example,” he added. He continued to express how he is grateful for the care and support he has received and continues to receive during the process.
Nate Robinson played in the NBA for 11 seasons
Nate Robinson was drafted into the NBA in 2005 after being picked by the Phoenix Suns. However, he was traded to the New York Knicks on the same night. He was a part of the league for 11 seasons and played for eight different franchises. During his illustrious career, Robinson played 618 games and had an average score of 11 points, 3.0 assists, and 2.3 rebounds per game on 42.3 percent shooting from the field.
Furthermore, he is the only player in history to win the NBA Slam Dunk Contest three times. The first one was in 2006 and then Robinson won two back-to-back titles in 2009 and 2010. The last team he played for was the New Orleans Pelicans in the 2015-16 season. Recently, he spoke to HoopsHype and discussed why the Dunk Contest has lost its prestigious status over the years as well as revealed that he is still looking for a kidney.