“I Want to Stay Alive”: Fighting for His Life, Nate Robinson Shares Hopes for Future Amid Health Crisis

When we used to talk Nate Robinson before, it was about his epic alley-oops since college, his jokes with Shaquille O’Neal, his epic Slam Dunk contests and even his brief bout with boxing. Now when Nate Robinson comes up, it’s hard not to clasp your hands together and murmur a plea into the universe. The NBA legend’s battle with kidney disease prolongs painfully. He’s, however, been the picture of grit and inspiration staying the course. His goal, he tells Mens Health, is to protect his future.

“I gotta stick around. I want to stay alive for the next 40 years,“ he states simply, sincerely. He wants everything his future holds, he wants to, “be a grandpa, see my kids’ kids, take them to the gym, tell them the stories of when I was in the NBA around ’Bron and Kob’ and all these guys. I gotta fight for it.”

In 2022, he revealed he had been battling renal disease. He went through regular dialysis to prolong his lifespan but it’s not enough. In April 2024, he disclosed that he won’t go long unless he gets a kidney transplant. He’s still waiting for a match and he’s staying optimistic he will get there.

He was diagnosed in 2006, shortly after beginning his NBA career. Knicks doctors did regular checks on him and warned him about his condition. They tried to stop him from playing when his blood pressure was problematic. He had some severe days of dehydration and incessant vomiting but was dismissive of doctor’s concerns as long as he could keep playing. It became too bleak to ignore in 2018, when he was retiring from pro-ball after international stints.

He started dialysis and tried to keep going. And the NBA world is rallying together to save The Biggest Little Man.

There is a ‘cool’ donor out there

The NBA world won’t let this be KryptoNate’s kryptonite. There’s no NBA player who isn’t trying to help Robinson secure his future. Jamal Crawford spreads the word, urging people to donate or support people suffering from renal disease. Crawford amped it up sharing Robinson’s Mens Health interview with an emoji that indicates he’s praying for help for his friend.

Robinson keeps playing hoops with neighborhood kids to keep up his spirit. He hopes to hear the good news someone from, “family, friends, or a cool-a** fan,” is a match and he’ll get life-saving treatment.

When he gets a new kidney, he hopes others in his position can feel the same surge of positivity for the future. As Robinson stated, “My story doesn’t end here.” Thousands of fans are flocking flocking to spread the news, fetch help and someday, the 40-year-old can say the words in absolute assurance.