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Sports

Thunder fans need to find something to hate about Nene

By Jenni Carlson • Published: April 16, 2011
You’re going to need to channel your inner Kendrick Perkins, Thunder fans.

The target: Nene.

On a team that has its share of colorful characters to play the bad-guy role, the Nuggets center has become Public Enemy No. 1 in the Thunder Nation. First, he went toe-to-toe and forehead-to-forehead with Perkins, then he tussled with the Thunder big man again a few days later. Now, he’s coming to town for a wild, wild Western Conference showdown.

Sure hope...

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The Nene file
• Position: Center/Forward

• Height: 6-foot-11

• Weight: 250 pounds

• Born: Sept. 13, 1982, in Sao Carlos, Brazil

• Years pro: 8

• 2010-11 averages: 14.5 points, 7.6 rebounds, 1.0 blocks

• Career averages: 12.3 points, 6.9 rebounds, 0.9 blocks

• Nene was a nickname given to Maybyner Rodney Hilario, who was the youngest in his family and always hung out with a group of older kids. “Nene” means “baby” in Portuguese. He legally changed his name to it in 2003.

• Plays bass guitar.

• Diagnosed with testicular cancer in 2008. He missed more than two months of the 2007-08 season, but the following season, he had a career year with career-high averages in points and rebounds.

• Favorite teams are soccer squads — Sao Paulo in the Brazilian league and FC Barcelona.

• Does extensive charity work in his homeland of Brazil, including hosting a gospel event there for the past three summers and sponsoring more than 50 athletes in his hometown.