Former dunk contest champ Nate Robinson undergoing treatment for kidney failure

Former NBA veteran and three-time Slam Dunk contest champion Nate Robinson announced Saturday that he's been experiencing kidney failure for the last four years and undergoing treatment for it.

"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," Robinson wrote.

Robinson adds that he wishes to help other people affected by kidney disease by making his battle with it public.

"I was never a vocal leader on the court, I preferred to lead by example, but now it's time for me to speak up and help all those affected by or dealing with kidney disease," he wrote.

Robinson played 11 NBA campaigns for five different teams. He spent his first four and a half years with the New York Knicks, where he averaged a career-best 17.2 points per game during the 2008-09 season.