Former NBA player Nate Robinson underwent a kidney transplant on Friday after struggling with renal failure for several years.
The three-time slam dunk champion, who played for 11 years in the NBA, shared the news on Instagram, expressing gratitude for his new kidney and thanking everyone who supported him. “Thank you to all the people that sent prayers and texted my phone giving me encouragement & love!!!” Robinson wrote.
The transplant took place at the University of Washington Medical Center in Seattle, where a kidney from a live donor was used. Robinson had been aware of his kidney issues since his early NBA days with the New York Knicks, but he didn’t reveal the extent of his condition until 2022, seven years after his playing career ended.
“It was shocking to know that at some point, my kidneys were going to go,” Robinson said in a documentary. “I just tried to lock it down deep and live my life, enjoying my time in the NBA.”
Since 2021, Robinson had been undergoing regular dialysis to help filter waste and excess fluids from his blood. The 40-year-old had spoken about the long wait for a transplant, vowing to cherish his new kidney when it came.
“When I get a kidney, I’m going to treat it like a baby,” he said. “I’m going to do everything I’m supposed to do.”