Nene

Nen? (born Maybyner Rodney Hilario on September 13, 1982 in S?o Carlos, Brazil) is a Brazillian basketball player who plays for the NBA's Denver Nuggets. The 6'11" (2.11 m) Nen? is one of the most athletic big men in the league.

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A native of S?o Carlos, he received his nickname Nen? (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.

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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 Chicago predraft camp in 2002; the New York Knicks picked him seventh overall in the 2002 NBA Draft and immediately traded him to the Denver Nuggets.

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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.

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In the 2003 offseason, he legally changed his name to his lifelong nickname of Nen?.

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September 13: September 13 is the 256th day of the year (257th in leap years). There are 109 days remaining in the year....

1982: 1982 is a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar....

Brazil: The Federative Republic of Brazil (Rep?blica Federativa do Brasil in Portuguese) is the largest and most populous country in Latin America, and the fifth largest in the world. Spanning a vast area between central South America and the Atlantic Ocean, it borders Uruguay, Argentina, Paraguay, Bolivia,...

Nene related Images and Photos (experimental)

Nene Hilario 2010-11 Action

Bubblegum Crisis Nene with Motoslave Figure

New Orleans Hornets v Denver Nuggets Denver - January 9: David West and Nene