Nate Robinson is heading to Lebanon to continue his professional basketball career after signing a one-year deal with Homenetmen Beirut of the Lebanese Basketball League, according to Yahoo Sports' Shams Charania. Robinson, 34, is currently the co-captain of team Tri-State in the Big 3 League, where he is averaging 10.3 points and 2.0 assists through six games.
According to Bleacher Report's Mirin Fader, Robinson was hoping to use the Big3 as a means to earn a training camp contract with an NBA squad. The explosive point guard has not played in the NBA since the 2015-16 season, when he appeared in two games for the New Orleans Pelicans, but he has stayed active overseas. In 2016, Robinson made 14 appearances for Israeli side Hapoel Tel Aviv, and later signed with Guaros de Lara in Venezuela for 35 games.
Robinson recently opened up to Bleacher Report about how he struggled with depression while he was playing in the league, including during his stint with the New York Knicks. During his rookie season in NY, Robinson says he suffered emotional abuse at the hands of then head coach Larry Brown, who referred to him daily as “the little shit.” Robinson says he eventually stormed into Brown's office crying and asking the coach to stop belittling him.
According to the report, Brown stood in front of the team just 10 minutes later and called Robinson “the little shit” again, and revealed he had cried in his office. When asked about Robinson's claims, Brown said: “I don’t have any recollection. I don’t, I don’t know … I don’t know what I called him, to be honest with you. If I did that, shame on me. I would feel terrible about that. That’s not who I am, but I don’t want to dispute Nate.”
“The NBA gave me my depression,” Robinson told Bleacher Report. “I’ve never been a depressed person in my life.”