In April 2024, Washington Huskies legend Nate Robinson announced that he had been diagnosed with kidney failure and if he doesn’t receive a kidney donation soon, he doesn’t have long to live. Since then, the Washington and greater Seattle community has rallied behind the Husky Hall of Famer, who opened up on his struggles with Tyler Tynes and Men’s Health.
Robinson discussed that throughout his 11-year NBA career, where he played with eight teams and won three Slam Dunk Contests, he dealt with high blood pressure and was even advised by team doctors to sit games out when it was too high.
“I felt like I was Superman. I never thought I would get sick,” he told Tynes.
Even after his NBA career ended, he continued playing internationally, winning MVP and a league championship in Venezuela. He also tried out for the Seattle Seahawks in 2016 thanks to his football background from his time at Washington and his father, All-Pac-10 running back Jacque Robinson.
Robinson pushed as hard as he could to keep his athletic career going for as long as possible, taking up professional boxing and playing basketball internationally and in the Ice Cube-backed Big3 league.
We have to get our brother a kidney ASAP‼️🙏🏾 https://t.co/pHdLwDYhxz
— 🏁 Jamal Crawford (@JCrossover) April 10, 2024
However, while at a basketball tournament for his son in Philadelphia, he caught the coronavirus and his health took a turn.
“When I got back home to Seattle, I went straight to the hospital,” he said. “It was bad, bro. I was in the hospital for a week. My body, my insides just… stopped working. They told me I might as well start dialysis today. ‘Your kidneys are working too hard; they’re deteriorating as we speak. The only way you will walk out of here alive is if you start dialysis.’ It was the only thing I had left.”
While in search of a new kidney, Robinson has made changes to his diet, exercises where he can, and has devoted as much time as possible to his three children. His oldest, Nahmier, plays cornerback for coach Deion Sanders and the Colorado Buffaloes.
Through all the hardships, there’s one thing Robinson hasn’t lost, his impressive leaping ability.
“Man, I can still grab rim! Thank God,” he said. “I haven’t tried to dunk yet. I feel like if I can continue to work, I can get back to it.”
To read Robinson’s full interview with Tyler Tines for Men’s Health, click here.
If you want to register as a potential kidney donor for Robinson, click here.