“I wouldn’t trade it [kidney disease] for the world. This is my story, and this is my journey,” Nate Robinson said in 2022, when he revealed he had been quietly dealing with renal failure for the past seven years. Now, after years of fighting, the three-time NBA Slam Dunk Champion has finally received a new kidney.

Robinson, now 40, shared the news that he had undergone a successful kidney transplant. According to an ESPN report, the procedure took place at the University of Washington Medical Center, marking a major step in his long battle with the disease.

“I’m here to celebrate and thank the LORD for all he has done in my life, today is the day I get my new kidney,” Robinson wrote after the surgery. “Thank you to all the people that sent prayers and texted my phone giving me encouragement & love!!! Ur a foo if you dnt believe in GOD and the miracles he performs!! Amen.”

Robinson also posted an image with an orange background featuring the message, “2/7/25 Friday LFG,” along with a teary-eyed emoji.

The announcement quickly gained traction, drawing over 20,000 responses on social media. Among those showing support were NBA legends Dwyane Wade and Jamal Crawford, both of whom have long admired Robinson’s resilience on and off the court.

What actually happened with the Robinson?

Nate Robinson’s battle with kidney disease became public in 2022 when he revealed he had been privately receiving treatment for four years. “I’m sharing this now because I want to be the voice for all those who are having trouble speaking about this illness and come together for a greater cause — our health,” he told The Athletic.

Not only that, last April, he opened up about his grim outlook, telling the Daily Mail, “I know that I don’t have long if I can’t get a kidney. I know I’m not going to have long to live.” however, even in the face of such adversity, Robinson refused to back down.

Back in June, Robinson revealed to Men’s Health that his kidneys were functioning at less than 15% of their normal capacity. It was a staggering number for an athlete who once dominated on both the football field and basketball court.

Back in 2006, while playing for the New York Knicks, Robinson first learned that high blood pressure had already damaged his kidneys. He didn’t take it seriously at the time, brushing off concerns from team doctors. “They used to tell me that we’re going to have to check your blood pressure, and if your blood pressure is too high, you can’t play in the game,” he recalled.

But Robinson wasn’t having it. “I used to tell them, ‘Don’t check my blood pressure because I am playing regardless of what you say.’” He thought he was invincible—until reality caught up.

Doctors warned him that his kidney function was declining and that failure was inevitable by his thirties. Robinson, however, refused to let that thought hold him back. “It was shocking to hear that at some point, some time, my kidneys were going to go,” he admitted. But he wasn’t ready to let the diagnosis define him. “I wanted to enjoy my time in the league and play for as long as I could.”

And he did. Over 11 NBA seasons, Robinson racked up more than 7,000 points, 1,900 assists, and 1,500 rebounds, all while secretly battling a life-threatening condition. His struggles remained unknown to fans—they never knew about his multiple hospitalizations between games, nor how he persevered despite his physical suffering.

“There were times when I got sick. I was throwing up and couldn’t control what was going on. They had to put me in the hospital for a couple of days,” Robinson revealed. Yet, each time, he came back feeling stronger, determined to keep going. But in 2018, his kidneys finally failed, bringing his basketball career to an end.

Even then, Robinson refused to let it break him. His fight is far from over. Of course, since then he becomes an advocate for kidney disease.

From NBA stardom to kidney disease advocate

After his years of struggle, Nate Robinson isn’t just focused on his own battle—he’s on a mission to help others facing kidney disease. His fight has become bigger than basketball. “I wouldn’t trade it [kidney disease] for the world. This is my story, and this is my journey,” Robinson told Playmaker in 2022.

More than anything, he wants to inspire people who feel alone in their struggles. “I’m going to be a living testimony to other kids and people around the world—they can get through something like this, and they’re not alone.”

Now, the 40-year-old focuses on himself in his new life. “Later on in life, when I get a kidney, I’m going to be looking back, like, ‘Damn, I really went through all this.’ That kidney I get, I’m going to cherish it,” he said ESPN last year. “I’m going to treat it like a baby. I’m going to do everything I’m supposed to do.”

And of course, Nate Robinson will also continue to help other to overcome battle he fought for years.