Nate Robinson opens up about surviving kidney failure, receiving a life-saving transplant, and his deep affection for Hapoel Tel Aviv.
Sometimes, reality writes a script more powerful than any Hollywood drama. Just ask Nate Robinson.
Standing just 175 centimeters tall, Robinson redefined expectations in the NBA during an 11-year career that proved heart and hustle can outshine height. But while fans in Israel remember him for his electrifying stint with Hapoel Tel Aviv in 2016, his greatest battle came after he stepped off the hardwood.
In 2017, Robinson retired from basketball. But what followed was a life-or-death struggle—one far more grueling than any playoff game.
The former NBA Slam Dunk Champion had long battled kidney issues, but things took a terrifying turn when his kidneys failed completely. For four years, he endured grueling dialysis treatments—12 hours a week, tethered to a machine keeping him alive—until a donor match changed his life.
Today, after a successful transplant in February, Robinson is back on his feet, speaking with gratitude, faith, and a renewed sense of purpose.
“I'm good. I'm working, getting better. I'm enjoying life, I got a second chance and I'm trying to take everything slow. I'm enjoying my children and just living," he told Saar Shoham from Sport5.
That second chance has changed his perspective in profound ways.
“Life looks different now. When you get a second chance at life, you want to do things the right way. I want to live a long life, enjoy watching my kids grow up, be a grandpa one day. Now I enjoy the job where I can go out and do things.”
Robinson explained how his condition—diagnosed early in his NBA career—forced him to manage blood pressure closely just to stay on the court.
Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv / Schedule
Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv
Dreamland Gran Canaria“When I was in the NBA, my kidneys weren't failing yet, so I was still relatively healthy. I had to keep my blood pressure low so they would let me play. Before every game, I had to calm down for the tests so I could get cleared. It was a game before the game.”
But the fight took its toll.
“Dialysis is hard to explain. Your kidneys stop working, so the machine cleans your blood and puts it back in. You get stabbed with two needles three times a week for four hours each time. That was my life for four years.
The mental part was the hardest. There were times I wanted to give up, but I’ve never quit anything in my life. I had a support system—my mom, my grandma, friends. They sat with me during dialysis. Without them, I wouldn’t have made it.”
Then came the call he had been praying for.
“God sent me an angel. His name is Shane Cleveland—he gave me a healthy kidney. They told me at Christmas and it was the best gift I ever received. I cried like a baby for three or four days.
When the doctor called and said I’d get a kidney, I fell to my knees and said, ‘Thank God.’ I called my mom, my dad—we all cried. It wasn’t just being sick. I was fighting for my life.”
Now, every breath feels like a blessing.
“You can’t take life for granted. I write in my journal every morning: ‘Thank God I woke up.’ Some people don’t get that chance.”
Robinson also looked back on his unforgettable stint in Israel with Hapoel Tel Aviv—one of the most unexpected and celebrated signings in Israeli basketball history.
“I miss Israel. The fans, the people, the country—I had a really good time. I didn’t want to leave. I wanted to come back the following season. I wanted to retire in red.”
He still doesn’t know why it didn’t happen.
“You should ask them why they didn’t sign me again. I have no idea. I had to go to Venezuela after that. I won a championship there—it was fun—but I wanted to go back to Israel.”
However, the connection to Hapoel fans remains strong.
“The fans were amazing. After practice, we’d go to the beach. The food was great. I would’ve been very happy to spend my last years there.”
Robinson still follows Hapoel and was thrilled to hear about the team’s recent EuroCup run.
“Oh my God, they’re on track to win? I’m going for Hapoel—they’re going to win the EuroCup. Tell them I wish them luck.”
In closing, Robinson offered one simple wish:
“Pray for longevity—that I live a very long time. That’s what I want in my life.”
