Former NBA Dunk Champion Needs To Find Kindey Donor Fast Or He Will Die

Former NBA star Nate Robinson announced he will die soon if he doesn’t find a kidney donor.

The former NBA Champion was diagnosed with kidney disease over 18 years ago.

Robinson shared, “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.”

Currently, Robinson’s kidneys are functioning at less than 15%.

Robinson became a household name for NBA fans after winning the dunk contest thrice.

Nate Robinson says that if he doesn’t receive a kidney soon, death is the next door he will walk through, per @MensHealthMag

“Some days I didn’t want to leave the house; I just didn’t want to do dialysis no more. Some days, I did wanna be here, and do this, until I find a… pic.twitter.com/FTJgBIRoUm

— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) June 18, 2024

Pray for Nate Robinson 🙏 pic.twitter.com/XhiA6AHIbN

— Hoops (@HoopMixOnly) June 19, 2024

Per NBC News:

Former NBA star Nate Robinson, who was diagnosed with kidney disease 18 years ago, said he knows he will die if he doesn’t find a kidney donor soon.

“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 ‘Bron and Kob’ and all these guys,” he told Men’s Health magazine in an interview that published Tuesday. “I gotta fight for it.”

Robinson’s kidneys have been functioning at less than 15% of their optimal capacity, according to the magazine. He said that some days after he gets dialysis, a procedure to remove waste and excess fluid from the blood after the kidneys stop working properly, he gets body cramps and shortness of breath and experiences violent vomiting.

On days when he feels good after treatment, he trains at the gym and spends time with his children. He said having a routine has helped him get out of what he calls “the dark place.”

“I was so angry in the beginning,” he told the publication. “I was so mean.”

Robinson, a former guard, played 11 seasons in the NBA for eight teams: the Denver Nuggets, the Oklahoma City Thunder, the New Orleans Pelicans, the New York Knicks, the Golden State Warriors, the Boston Celtics, the Los Angeles Clippers and the Chicago Bulls. He made a name for himself in New York when he became the first player to win the Slam Dunk Contest three times.

Former NBA player Nate Robinson is looking for a kidney from kidney failure. He goes through dialysis three times a week for four hours pic.twitter.com/e9uF5nejcn

— Daily Loud (@DailyLoud) February 14, 2024

Per Cleveland:

Former NBA star Nate Robinson opened up about his yearslong battle with kidney failure and his continued search for a kidney donor.

Robinson, 40, was diagnosed with kidney disease in 2006 and has been undergoing treatment for renal kidney failure since 2018. Kidney failure is a condition in which one or both kidneys no longer function properly eliminate toxins from the body, which can lead symptoms including extreme fatigue, nausea and vomiting, cramps, swelling, confusion or trouble concentrating, and more, according to the Cleveland Clinic.

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Robinson, an 11-year NBA veteran who retired in 2016, first made his diagnosis public in October 2022. Two years later, he said he’s still searching for a kidney donor so he can continue to live.