Nuggets' Nene an efficiency expert

Brazilian center's 64.2 percent from floor leads NBA

By Paul Willis, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published December 3, 2008 at 9:03 p.m.

Text size  

• 9 Comments
• Email
• Print

Photo by Mark J. Terrill / Associated Press

Nuggets center Nene has made the transformation from power forward to center after battling injuries and testicular cancer last season. "Now is my time," said Nene, who is averaging 15.2 points, 7.4 rebounds and 1.68 blocked shots. "I've been through a lot of things to get to this position."

This is how Nene likes it.

While the Nuggets' monthlong hot streak has been credited almost solely to the arrival of Chauncey Billups and the improved all-around game of Carmelo Anthony, the Nuggets center quietly is becoming the player they always said he could be.

While Billups and Anthony continue to eat up the headlines, Nene has averaged 15.2 points, 7.4 rebounds and 1.68 blocked shots, all of which would shatter his single-season bests.

But perhaps most telling about the 6-foot-11 Brazilian's emergence is his 64.2 percent field-goal percentage, which leads the NBA but is on pace to be the best since Artis Gilmore shot 65.2 percent for Chicago in 1981-82.

"Now is my time," Nene said. "I've been through a lot of things to get to this position I am now."

Indeed, Nene has persevered through a laundry list of injuries and a bout of testicular cancer. Then, the onus further was placed on the seventh-year pro when Denver dumped starting center Marcus Camby and his salary on the Los Angeles Clippers during the offseason.

What had the makings of a PR disaster for the Nuggets if Nene did not immediately produce now virtually has become a forgotten topic.

"I'll tell you, I've been most surprised with Nene," Billups said. "I knew he was good. I knew that he was tough on the block to stop. I didn't know he could shoot as well as he does, and I didn't know he blocks shots as well as he does.

"Nene, he's an All-Star, man, and there's no one playing better than him in the league. I've looked around, I've seen it, and no one's really playing better than Nene. He's been a pleasant surprise for me, and he's such a great dude, which you guys all know."

Nuggets coach George Karl said Nene seldom takes a contested shot and terms the big man a "really efficient player."

But Karl also thinks Nene can do more.

"He bothers me because we run plays (for him) that he breaks out of and sets a screen for somebody else," Karl said. "We've had trouble getting guys to run plays for other people (but not for themselves). Sometimes I wish Nene would be a little more selfish to get his touch, get his opportunity, instead of sacrifice for other people."

Said Nene: "I'm no man who likes to force the ball. I just try to finish hard. I feel blessed, and now I have this No. 1 field-goal percent, and that's good because it will make me work more and take it more serious."

There were many who thought the Nuggets made a serious mistake when they signed Nene to a six-year, $60 million deal in summer 2006. He had a difficult first two seasons after receiving the contract many NBA insiders rated anywhere from high risk to ridiculous.

He was eased into action in 2006-07 because he was coming off knee surgery that limited him to one game the previous season. By the end of 2006-07, he was beginning to realize his potential, playing similarly to how he is now, albeit mostly at the power forward position with Kenyon Martin out because of knee surgery.

Then last season, Nene battled through calf and thumb injuries before being diagnosed with testicular cancer. He returned late in the season after receiving treatment, but his season could be described as disjointed, at best.

"It's great to see him back," Toronto Raptors forward Chris Bosh said. "He's playing like he was before, even better. He's a very good post player. He has a bunch of moves down low, and he's very strong."

Nene was his efficient self Tuesday in a blowout win against the Raptors, nailing 8-of-9 shots en route to 19 points and 11 rebounds. It was his second consecutive double-double and fifth this season, numbers that might suggest he is beginning to settle in to his role as a full-time starter.

"Do I feel comfortable? No," Nene said. "Never get comfortable. Because when you get comfortable, you can lose your position."

That prospect seems very unlikely, especially with Nene slowly beginning to get leaguewide acclaim after onlookers get past the contributions of Billups and Anthony.

"He's playing great," said Sam Mitchell, who was fired as Raptors coach after the loss to Denver. "But their whole team is playing great."

• December 3, 2008

  9:46 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  deezBroncs1127 writes:

  Nene is playing like the beast he is. I'm gonna admit to it, I was scared with all the injuries & testicular cancer that his better days were past him. Well Nene, you've proved me wrong and I'm glad you did, because your making the Camby deal look better every day I see you play.

  Just stay healthy Big Fella !

• December 3, 2008

  11:52 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  avsfan71085 writes:

  he is a monster!! I love Nene, always have, plays with authority

• December 4, 2008

  6:51 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  Nuggs311 writes:

  I've loved Nene ever since we got him in a draft day trade with Camby. His talent has never been questioned, the issue with him has always been his health. Now he is finally healthy, and he is playing like I knew he would, like an all star. Now with a legit point guard and a monster on the low post, the Nuggs have a chance to make some noise in the playoffs this year. Keep doing what your doing big man, and most of all, STAY HEALTHY!!!

• December 4, 2008

  8:07 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  LingLingfor_prez writes:

  Go Blazers! Tonight when the Nuggets beat the Spurs, they will be tied for 2nd in the western conference with the Blazers. If you told me that both of these teams would be doing this well at this point in the season, I would have called you crazy. Nene is playing better as are the rest of the Nuggets because you don't have AI wasting all the shot clock.

• December 4, 2008

  10:54 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  wj_nugs writes:

  Good point LingLing. This is going to be a tough division with the Nugs, Blazers, and a healing Jazz team. Should provide for some really good games down the road in Portland and Denver.
  Nene deserves to be on the ballot. Not people like Shaq who are just there because of the name. Big game tonight...

• December 4, 2008

  12:10 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  warrengfunk7 writes:

  It was an outrage that the NBA left the Denver Nugget's starting Center off the ballot, but put rookies on it such as Marc Gasol and OJ Mayo. The starting Center of the Denver Nuggets which everyone knew was finally healthy and going to finally fulfill huge potential locked inside him! The NBA is out of touch with reality and obviously catering to big markets and big names.

• December 4, 2008

  2:55 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  deezBroncs1127 writes:

  Hopefully Nene can get a reserve spot because he well deserves one with the way he is playing. Who makes up these ballots ? This is just wrong that Nene didn't get on the ballot as a center.

  Coaches around the league hopefully see what Nene is all about now that he is healthy & playing like the double-double player he is. If is name doesn't get mentioned, its because he is not a big name player like the Shaq's of the world.

  Remember we had a defensive player of the NBA at one point and he didn't even get a look to play in the All-Star game (Marcus Camby). Just keep playing like the beast you are Nene and I will take Wins instead of All-Star appearances any day.

• December 4, 2008

  3:06 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  BOHICA writes:

  No doubt Nene has been an absolue stud on the court this year. But something most probably don't know about Nene, is the kind of guy he is off the court. I went to the Bulls game a couple weeks ago, and had passes to get back by the player's exit after the game. It was my nephew's birthday, so we took him back for autographs. Most of the players were cordial enough, and took the time to sign autographs, but Nene went above and beyond what anyone could have expected. While most guys were signing and splitting as quickly as possible, Nene hung around for probably close to 30 minutes, talking to people, signing autographs and taking pictures with anyone that requested one. The guy couldn't have been more friendly and accomodating to the fans. It's refreshing to see that there are still guys like Nene that do not take their fortune for granted. This guy understands that its the fans that make this league go, and I believe he genuinely appreciates his fans as much as they appreciate him. This guy gets it. Nene...thanks for making a kids birthday one he'll never forget. You are the model that pro athletes should aspire to.

• December 4, 2008

  4:53 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  mershon17 writes:

  Vote-Write-in:Nene' 4 the all-star game....go 2 nuggets.com or nba.com....Thanks Nene' deserves it......

Featured

• DNC in Denver

  

  Complete coverage of the 2008 Democratic National Convention.

• The Crevasse

  

  A five-part series that examines one tragic day on Mount Rainier.

• Deadly denial

  

  Sick nuclear workers applied for government compensation but most haven't seen a dime.

• Final Salute

  

  The Rocky followed Maj. Steve Beck as he took on the most difficult duty of his career.

• 'Colorado's burning'

  

  Coverage of the state's worst wildfires.

• Columbine shootings

  

  Coverage of the April 20, 1999, shootings at Littleton's Columbine High School.

• The Crossing

  

  Colorado's deadliest traffic accident killed 20 children on Dec. 14, 1961.

• Osveli's journey

  

  Osveli Sales left Guatemala for a better life. Two months later, he came home in a box.

• Wake for an Indian warrior

  

  Oglala Sioux bestow a tribute to the first tribal fatality in Iraq.