Nate Robinson: Michael Jordan’s GOAT Status, LeBron’s Legacy & Life After Kidney Condition
By mBit Casino Magazine
mBit Casino recently sat down with three-time Slam Dunk Champion & NBA fans favourite Nate Robinson — and he has never been one to hold back.
From battling giants in the paint to surviving a life-threatening kidney condition, Robinson opens up about the state of modern basketball, his admiration for today’s stars, his own journey to recovery, and why he still believes Michael Jordan is the GOAT.
LeBron’s Legacy & the “Once-in-a-Lifetime” Moment
Q: LeBron’s hinted this could be his final season — possibly sharing the court with his son Bronny. What’s your take?
Robinson: “Knowing LeBron, he spends so much money on his body, staying healthy. Guys are different now. God is making guys different these years than they were back in the ’90s and early 2000s.”
“There’s no telling. Technology is getting better with sports, with injuries. You’ve got guys like Jayson Tatum and Dame Lillard already bouncing back from Achilles tears, back in the day that was unheard of.”
“So to see these guys bounce back quickly from injuries like that shows how technology is moving forward. If I’m a betting man, I’d say LeBron plays at least two more seasons.”
“This year and probably next year. But if this is his last year, people need to embrace and appreciate what he’s brought to the game since high school. He’s been one of the best ever to lace them up.”
Q: What do you make of the idea of father and son playing together?
Robinson: “Not necessarily a burden, but it’s probably awkward, hooping with your pops. Not cringe, but awkward. Like, “Damn, my pops is here.” You know, Bronny’s been watching his dad since forever.”
“I know little Bronny probably feels a certain way, not in a bad way, just like, damn, Dad’s here. But it’s pretty cool to say you can hoop with your pops at the highest level.”
“Anybody would love to do that if you’re a real basketball fan. If you love your dad, you’d definitely love to hoop with him. That’s a pretty cool accomplishment for the James family.”
Q: You’ve often spoken about legacy — how should LeBron’s career be remembered?
Robinson: “He changed the game in a lot of ways — how players take care of their bodies, how they move in business. He’s one of the smartest dudes to ever touch a basketball.”
Curry’s Relentless Work Ethic
Q: You played with Steph during his early years. Did you see greatness coming?
Robinson: “Watching him work out was one of the best things I’ve ever seen anyone do. His workouts are extreme.”
“He does such a great job of making shots and making it look easy because he puts in so much work behind closed doors that people don’t see. They just see him making shots in games, turning around, dancing, shimmying — but he puts in blood, sweat, and tears.”
“In the offseason, during the season — practising his shot, how he moves, the things he does — it’s unbelievable. I wish people could be a fly on the wall watching his workouts live so they could understand what he puts in, and how he gets it out during games — fans cheering, him doing magical things.”
Q: What stands out most about him compared to others?
Robinson: “His confidence. The man practices shots nobody else would dare take — and then he hits them in games. That’s next-level.”
Q: Who’s your MVP pick for this season?
Robinson: “Shai Gilgeous-Alexander did a great job last year balling out, but I’m going to go with year 17 Steph Curry for MVP.”
“He might come in and do something he hasn’t accomplished yet, maybe being the first person to shoot 50% from the field, 50% from three, and 90–95% from the free throw line. Something crazy like that. I’m rolling with Steph Curry.”
“It’s either him or Ant-Man. Ant’s right around the corner from stealing MVP from somebody. He’s a great player, young talent, fun to watch, and exciting. His interviews are always classic.”
The Next Generation: Edwards, Wembanyama & The Future
Q: Who’s next in line to dominate the league?
Robinson: “Anthony Edwards is right around the corner from stealing MVP from somebody. He’s a great player, young talent, fun to watch, and his interviews are always classic.
“Victor Wembanyama too — hopefully his game blossoms and he dominates in a way we’ve never seen. The Spurs are going to be fun.”
Q: Are there any other young players you’re keeping an eye on?
Robinson: “Ja Morant, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and the Thompson twins — those guys are electric. They bring back that excitement the league had in the early 2000s.”
Q: How do you view the league’s current balance?
Robinson: “It’s dope. There’s real parity now. It’s not about superteams — everybody’s got talent. Every night’s a fight.”
Michael Jordan: The Undisputed GOAT
Q: The eternal question — who’s the greatest of all time?
Robinson: “Michael Jeffrey Jordan. He’s the GOAT, no questions asked. Debate should be over. When you think basketball, you think Jordan. Kids today only know LeBron, they don’t know Jordan like we do, but they know of him. That alone shows he’s the GOAT.”
“LeBron and Jordan will be in the GOAT debate forever, until someone else comes along.”
“It’s a tough deal. You can ask any NFL player or anyone from another sport — who’s the basketball GOAT? They’ll say Michael Jordan or LeBron James. Some will say Kobe. I think Kobe is up there as well.”
“Kobe had the Michael Jordan mentality. Kobe and MJ had that killer mentality, it’s real. They dominated the game. For me, my two GOATs are Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant, for sure.”
Q: Why do you think that mentality is so rare now?
Robinson: “Because it’s not taught anymore. Those guys wanted to kill you on the court — respectfully. They didn’t want to be your friend. That edge made basketball what it was.”
Q: Who inspired you when you were growing up?
Robinson: “Michael Jordan. And Allen Iverson was a great influence, the guy I wanted to model my game after because he was a little guy and I was a little guy. So AI and Jordan.”
“I had guys like Steve Francis, Baron Davis, Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf, so many different guys. I just wanted to set myself apart, showcase what I can do, bring energy and showmanship, and give back to the fans and people who believed in me.”
Life After Basketball: A Second Chance
After years on dialysis, Robinson received a life-saving kidney transplant — a moment he calls “a blessing from above.”
Robinson: “It was like meeting your guardian angel. Shane blessed me with a perfect kidney, and now we’re family.
“Small things don’t bother me anymore. I wake up every day thankful — coaching my daughter, watching my sons play, just enjoying life.
“Go get checked. Make sure your insides are as good as your outsides. Health is wealth — and I’m living proof that second chances are real.”
Q: How did your experience change your perspective on fame and success?
Robinson: “When you’re fighting for your life, you realize none of that matters — not fame, not money, not stats. What matters is who’s in your corner when you’re down.”
The Mindset of an Underdog
Q: What’s your message to the next generation of ‘little guys’ trying to make it?
Robinson: “Big shout out to the haters and doubters — they made me want to prove everyone wrong. You can’t be a solid player without haters.
“Guys like Iverson, Steve Francis, and Baron Davis inspired me. They showed us little guards we could dominate too.”
Q: What are some moments that defined your confidence?
Robinson: “Blocking Shaq, blocking Yao Ming, dunking over Dwight Howard — those were moments that said, ‘Yeah, I belong here.’ Every time people said I couldn’t, I did.”
Q: What were your favourite arenas?
Robinson: “Staples Center in LA was always great. United Center in Chicago where Jordan played. Madison Square Garden in New York, classic. TD Garden in Boston, of course. Miami, you’ve got to play well in Miami. Golden State was fun. Atlanta too. Those were the main cities where you had to show up and show out.”
“You’ve got the Miami life, courtside you might see DJ Khaled, Lil Wayne, Rick Ross, whoever. That’s the beautiful thing, playing in beautiful cities, there’s an energy you gravitate toward. The frequency, the aura, it makes it worth playing there.”
Q: In an interview on LeBron’s podcast, Kevin Durant said that 6’2″ and under guards aren’t seen as premium starters in today’s NBA because they get picked apart on defence in the postseason. What do you make of that?
Robinson: “KD knows the game — he’s won, he’s going to be a Hall of Famer, he knows what he’s talking about. It’s difficult because God is making guys tall, fast, and they can score — defensively it is difficult for us. But people have been taller than us our whole lives. For us, it’s nothing different from what we’ve seen. Certain teams just have to give little guys like myself, Jalen Brunson, different small guys, a chance.”
“You give us a chance, and I guarantee you’ll get the best out of us — offence, defence, whatever. We’re going to play defence the best way we know how. If you’re a good team, you’ll know how to adjust so we can be on the court at that time and play. If not — if you don’t know how to adjust to make it work — that’s a shame on the coach and on the organisation, not the player.”
“We’re doing what we’re supposed to do — trying our best, playing defence. It’s just that guys are taller and can shoot over us. We’re going to make a difference. In my years, I made a big difference as a small guy — I blocked shots, I rebounded, I played defence, I got steals.”
“So it’s not that we can’t do it — they just have to open their eyes and let us do it, and have faith that we can. We just need an opportunity. That’s the biggest word for small guys — opportunity.”
Life Beyond the Court
Q: How have you adjusted to your life after basketball?
Robinson: “Man, honestly, just being dad, bro. It’s part of life. It’s not like adjusting to anything — you’re just not playing in the NBA anymore. Life is life, and I’m enjoying watching my kids grow up. I’ve got two kids in college, a daughter who’s a sophomore in high school, and a 10-year-old who just started 3rd grade. Everything’s going good.”
Q: And you’ve done a lot of off-court ventures after retirement. What’s been your favourite so far?
Robinson: “Doing fun content, appearances, showing up. I’ve been creating sneakers with a brand called EQLZ from China. They’re letting me be creative on the design side — creating the sneakers, the colourways, the boxes, everything.
“Also visiting children’s hospitals — seeing kids on dialysis who are dealing with kidney failure, like I did. That’s been great. Just spending time with family and friends. Life’s been good, just trying to do fun stuff and stay busy.
“Hopefully I can get into coaching, training kids, teaching them what it’s like to work hard and grind to get where you want to be. Life’s been great.”
Q: Would you like to be a coach at the youth level, or higher?
Robinson: “High school, college, one day maybe pro. You’ve got to start your journey somewhere, but I definitely want to start with the youth — coaching AAU, doing things like that.
“My daughter’s a sophomore, so she’s got a couple more years in high school. I’ve spent a lot of time with my boys — one of my sons plays football at the University of Memphis, and my other son is at North Idaho College playing basketball.
“Now I’m putting my love and attention into my daughter, trying to get her to be one of the best players in the world one day. That’s the plan.”
Health, Healing & Purpose
Q: How have you been since the transplant?
Robinson: “Man, I’ve been great. Drinking lots of water, eating better — fruits and veggies — and staying away from processed foods and candy.
“Staying healthy, keeping this kidney healthy and treating it right. I’m just thankful that Shane blessed me with a perfect kidney, man, and I’m enjoying life — enjoying playing basketball again, messing around shooting, and coaching and training my daughter.
“It’s been a beautiful, wonderful time since February — getting that kidney, man. I’ve been blessed. Moving forward, God is good. I’m just thankful.”
Q: Can you walk me through the process of finding that donor?
Robinson: “Finding the donor was a long process — four years waiting for me. I had to get healthy; getting my blood pressure down was the biggest key.
“For the process of finding a donor, people would scan the code, fill out the information and paperwork, and see if they were the right blood type.
“It’s a long process, but Shane had the perfect blood type. Healthy guy — didn’t drink, didn’t smoke, ate right — and it was just a perfect match for me. I was in a dark place in those four years dealing with kidney failure. So I’m happy.”
Q: Meeting your donor, Shane, must have been emotional. What was that like?
Robinson: “It was like meeting your guardian angel. It’s hard to explain in detail. When you’ve been fighting for your life for so long and you get a gift like getting a kidney, and hearing that you’re getting one — it changes your life. You become thankful.”
“Right now me and Shane talk all the time. I text him all the time. We’re in this little pick ’em league for football where you pick your NFL games every week. I invited him to join my friends. He came to my birthday party. I went to his house for 4th of July this past year. We’re implementing our families together, doing things as brothers. I told him, “We’re family now. We’re connected, bonded for life,” and I meant that.”
“He’s come to Seattle a few times, came to my house, showed love. I did a couple of interviews and he popped up — had me in tears. Very emotional time. He’s a great guy. His family’s awesome, his daughters are great, and they welcomed me with open arms.”
“To be friends with a guardian angel is a unique, genuine, unbelievable feeling. I’m totally blessed for him, and I’m so thankful.”
Q: What advice would you give to people experiencing the health challenges you faced?
Robinson: “Always get tested. Make sure your insides are just as good as your outside appearance. Your internal health is a major key.
“Health is wealth. To have your health almost stripped from you by a disease that’s hard to bounce back from — take it from me. I’m a testimony of fighting and surviving something that could have killed me. I don’t know how to quit — I had to keep fighting.”
“For anyone going through it — lean on your support system. Surround yourself with people who care and want to see you healthy. Be knowledgeable about what’s going on in your body and what you’ll be dealing with. Surround yourself with people who’ve been through it as well.”
Q: Who supported you most through that journey?
Robinson: “Part of my journey was the Texas Kidney Foundation — Tiffany Jones-Smith helped me out big time. My doctors — Dr. Leka, Dr. B — at the University of Washington Hospital. My father, Shane, my friends and family. So many people checked on me. To the fans who sent love and flowers, to everyone who supported me — thank you. I needed all that love. It helped me out big time.”
The Mindset Shift
Robinson: “Before the transplant, I thought success was about the next dunk or contract. Now success is waking up, breathing, laughing with my kids. Small things mean everything.”
He’s become an advocate for mental and physical health – not only for athletes but for everyday people:
Robinson: “Don’t be afraid to talk about what you’re going through. Build a support system — friends, faith, family. Somebody out there is listening. Every message reminds me why I went public. If my story saves one life, it’s worth it.”
“Pressure busts pipes — but pressure also creates diamonds. Be that diamond in the rough. Do the hard things others won’t.”
Looking Forward
Today, Nate Robinson is rebuilding his second act with gratitude and ambition. Whether it’s sneaker design, mentoring kids, or speaking on health, he approaches every day with the same underdog drive that defined his playing career.
Robinson: “Basketball gave me a platform — now I want to use it to help others. Life’s too short not to inspire people along the way.
“If I can teach the next generation to love the game and their health at the same time, that’s the real win.”
Robinson: “The game gave me everything — now it’s my turn to give back. I’m blessed to still be here doing what I love.”
Nate’s Overall Message
From his fearless battles on the court to his fight for survival off it, Nate Robinson’s story is one of resilience, respect, and raw passion — the same spirit that defines the best of basketball.
And while the game may have changed, Robinson’s message to the next generation remains timeless:
“Respect the game — and never stop believing you belong.”