Nenê
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Position | Forward-Center |
|---|---|
| Height | 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) |
| Weight | 268 lb (122 kg) |
| Born | September 13, 1982 São Carlos, Brazil |
| Pro career | 2002 – present |
Nenê (born Maybyner Rodney Hilario on September 13, 1982 in São Carlos, Brazil) is a 6' 11" (2.11 m), 268-pound (122-kg) professional basketball player who plays for the NBA's Denver Nuggets.
A native of São Carlos, he received his nickname Nenê (Brazilian Portuguese for baby) because he was the youngest in both his family and his group of childhood friends. Like most Brazilian children, he started out playing soccer, and was good enough to receive some interest from professional clubs. He did not play basketball until he was 14, but apparently took to the game quickly. His original basketball teacher claims that when he first tried to dunk, he not only dunked the ball, but destroyed the basket.
He first came to international attention at the 2001 Goodwill Games as a member of the Brazilian national team. He also played in the Brazilian club Vasco da Gama. Afterwards, he excelled at the NBA's predraft camp in Chicago in 2002; the New York Knicks picked him seventh overall in the 2002 NBA Draft and immediately traded him to the Denver Nuggets.
He began the 2002-03 season on the bench, but ended it as a starter, averaging 10.5 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 1.6 steals, and finishing in the league's top ten in shooting percentage (.516). After the season, he was selected to the NBA All-Rookie first team.
On November 1, 2005, against the San Antonio Spurs, Nenê suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament, sprained medial collateral ligament and torn meniscus in his right knee during Denver's first game of the NBA season.
[edit] Trivia
- Played soccer as a child and was invited to train with pro clubs at a young age.
- As an 18-year-old playing for Vasco da Gama, averaged 7.9 ppg and 5.9 rpg in only 20 minutes per game.
- Given name is Maybyner Rodney Hilario, but legally changed his name to his childhood nickname "Nenê" in 2003.
- Plays the drums.
- Enjoys the music of Luther Vandross.
[edit] External links
| 2002 NBA Draft | ||
|---|---|---|
| First Round Yao Ming | Jay Williams | Mike Dunleavy, Jr. | Drew Gooden | Nikoloz Tskitishvili | Dajuan Wagner | Maybyner "Nene" Hilario | Chris Wilcox | Amare Stoudemire | Caron Butler | Jared Jeffries | Melvin Ely | Marcus Haislip | Fred Jones | Bostjan Nachbar | Jiri Welsch | Juan Dixon | Curtis Borchardt | Ryan Humphrey | Kareem Rush | Qyntel Woods | Casey Jacobsen | Tayshaun Prince | Nenad Krstić | Frank Williams | John Salmons | Chris Jefferies | Dan Dickau | ||
| Second Round Steve Logan | Roger Mason, Jr. | Robert Archibald | Vincent Yarbrough | Dan Gadzuric | Carlos Boozer | Milos Vujanić | David Andersen | Tito Maddox | Rod Grizzard | Juan Carlos Navarro | Mario Kasun | Ronald Murray | Jason Jennings | Lonny Baxter | Sam Clancy | Matt Barnes | Jamal Sampson | Chris Owens | Peter Fehse | Darius Songaila | Federico Kammerichs | Marcus Taylor | Rasual Butler | Tamar Slay | Mladen Sekularac | Luis Scola | Randy Holcomb | Corsley Edwards |
