Former NBA Star Nate Robinson Gives Gut-Wrenching Health Update As He Remains In Need Of A Kidney Transplant

Nate Robinson, who played in more than 600 NBA games in his career, revealed in April that he was in need of a kidney transplant, having already dealt with kidney failure for several years. He recently shared an update regarding his health, and things appear to be dire.

The 40-year-old recently spoke with Men's Health and touched on the dreams he still has while also touching on the fear of his potential donor going under the knife and not making it.

"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 outlet.

"We both got to go under the knife, and a lot of people don’t make it," Robinson said. "I would hate for somebody to give me that kidney and die to go through this. That would hurt me so much. For someone to have to die for me to live."

Nate Robinson (middle) is in need of a kidney transplant. Photo: Aric Becker-USA TODAY Sports

Robinson also shared that he has dreams in his sleep of receiving a new kidney from a family member, but in those dreams the donor always ends up passing away.

"That kind of fuc-ed with me," Robinson told the magazine.

Robinson was a human highlight reel during his prime playing days winning the NBA slam dunk contest in 2006, 2009, and 2010. During the 2012-13 season, Robinson appeared in all 82 regular season games for the Chicago Bulls. He last played in the NBA during the 2015-16 season with the New Orleans Pelicans and later spent time in the Israeli Basketball Premier League. 

Robinson first discovered his health issues in 2006 when he learned that his high blood pressure negatively affected his kidneys.