Nenê facts for kids
Nenê with the Washington Wizards in 2012
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| Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||
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| Born | September 13, 1982 São Carlos, Brazil |
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| Listed height | 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Listed weight | 250 lb (113 kg) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Career information | ||||||||||||||||||||
| NBA Draft | 2002 / Round: 1 / Pick: 7th overall | |||||||||||||||||||
| Selected by the New York Knicks | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Pro career | 1999–2020 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Career history | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 1999–2002 | Vasco da Gama | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2002–2012 | Denver Nuggets | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2012–2016 | Washington Wizards | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2016–2020 | Houston Rockets | |||||||||||||||||||
| Career highlights and awards | ||||||||||||||||||||
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| Career NBA statistics | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Points | 10,909 (11.3 ppg) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Rebounds | 5,828 (6.0 rpg) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Assists | 1,719 (1.8 apg) | |||||||||||||||||||
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Medals
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Nenê (pronounced "neh-NEH"), born Maybyner Rodney Hilário on September 13, 1982, is a Brazilian former professional basketball player. He was known as Nenê Hilario for a while, but in 2003, he legally changed his name to simply Nenê. He played as a center or power forward in the NBA for many years.
Contents
Early Life and First Steps in Basketball
Nenê was born in São Carlos, Brazil. His nickname "Nenê" means "baby" in Brazilian Portuguese. He got this name because he was the youngest in his family and among his friends.
Like many kids in Brazil, Nenê first played soccer. He was so good that professional soccer clubs invited him to train with them! But in the mid-1990s, he started playing basketball at a local school. He soon became a professional player for Vasco da Gama in Brazil from 1999 to 2002. In 2001, he also joined the Brazilian national basketball team.
Professional Career in the NBA
Playing for the Denver Nuggets (2002–2012)
Nenê's great playing in Brazil helped him get invited to an NBA tryout camp in Chicago in 2002. He was then chosen as the seventh overall pick in the 2002 NBA draft by the New York Knicks. However, the Knicks quickly traded him to the Denver Nuggets. This was a big deal because Nenê was the first Brazilian player ever picked in the first round of the NBA draft!
In his first season (2002–03), Nenê started as a player coming off the bench. But he soon became a starter, scoring about 10.5 points and grabbing 6.1 rebounds per game. He was one of the best in the NBA for shooting accuracy and steals. Because of his strong start, he was named to the NBA All-Rookie first team.
In his second season, Nenê played and started in 77 games. He continued to play well, averaging 11.8 points and 6.5 rebounds. He was also ranked fourth in the NBA for his shooting percentage.
Nenê faced some challenges with injuries during his third season (2004–05). He missed 27 games due to different knee and hip injuries. In the 2005–06 season, he had a serious injury, tearing a ligament in his right knee, which made him miss almost the entire season.
After recovering, Nenê signed a new contract with the Nuggets in 2006. He played in 64 games in the 2006–07 season, averaging 12.2 points and 7.0 rebounds.
In 2007–08, Nenê had another tough year with injuries. He missed many games due to a thumb injury and later took a break to deal with a medical issue. He returned to play in March 2008 and received a standing ovation from the fans.
Despite his injury struggles, Nenê had one of his best seasons in 2008–09. He played in 77 games and achieved career-highs in points (14.6), rebounds (7.8), and blocks (1.31). He was also second in the NBA for his field goal percentage, which was the best in the Nuggets' team history!
For the first time in his career, Nenê played and started in all 82 games during the 2009–10 season. He continued to be a key player for the Nuggets, averaging 13.8 points and 7.6 rebounds. In the 2010–11 season, he led the NBA in field goal percentage, shooting an amazing 61.5% from the field.
Moving to the Washington Wizards (2012–2016)
On March 15, 2012, Nenê was traded to the Washington Wizards as part of a big three-team trade. He continued to play well for the Wizards, averaging 13.7 points and 7.5 rebounds in his first season with them.
In the 2012–13 season, Nenê averaged 12.6 points and 6.7 rebounds. He scored a season-high 24 points in a game against the Portland Trail Blazers. The next season, on November 26, 2013, Nenê scored a career-high 30 points in a win against the Los Angeles Lakers. He even matched that career-high score later that season!
During the 2014–15 season, Nenê dealt with more injuries, but he still played in 67 games, which was his most in five years. He often played a supporting role, focusing on rebounding and doing the "dirty work" for the team.
In his final season with the Wizards (2015–16), Nenê missed some games due to a calf strain. However, he had a strong game on March 14, 2016, scoring 20 points off the bench in a big win for Washington.
Time with the Houston Rockets (2016–2020)
Nenê signed with the Houston Rockets on July 20, 2016. He quickly made an impact, scoring 18 points in a game against the Oklahoma City Thunder in January 2017. In the playoffs that year, he had an amazing game on April 23, 2017, scoring a playoff career-high 28 points without missing a single shot (12-of-12 shooting)! Unfortunately, he suffered a left adductor tear and missed the rest of the playoffs.
He re-signed with the Rockets in July 2017 and continued to contribute to the team. In the 2018–19 season, he missed the first 21 games due to a calf injury. His last NBA game was on May 10, 2019, in a playoff game against the Golden State Warriors. He officially retired from the NBA after the 2019–20 season, though he didn't play any games that year due to a hip injury.
Playing for Brazil
Nenê was also a very important player for the senior Brazilian national basketball team. He played in several major tournaments, including the 2012 Summer Olympics and the 2016 Summer Olympics. He won a silver medal at the 2001 FIBA AmeriCup, which is a big basketball tournament for teams in the Americas.
Personal Life
Nenê is a Christian. After a health scare earlier in his career (a cancer scare), he shared that he felt it was a test that helped him grow stronger and prepare to help others. He has said that he plans to get involved with church activities in Brazil after he fully retires from basketball.
Nenê has three sons with his ex-wife, Lauren Prothe. He is currently married to Briley Sheppard Hilario.
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