Last year was a nightmare for the Wizards center. Nene was battling multiple of injuries throughout the season. The Brazilian big man had plantar fasciitis in his foot, issues with both knees and a sore shoulder.
Nene missed 20 games due to injuries, but he still managed to average 12.6 points and 6.7 rebounds a game shooting 48 percent, plus he played solid defense. The Wizards dealt with a plethora of injuries this past season. John Wall, A.J. Price, Emeka Okafor, Bradley Beal and Martell Webster all missed significant time.
John Wall is the best player on the team, but Nene may be more valuable on both ends of the floor. Washington was much better when Nene was on the court. The Wizards offense was 5.9 points per 100 possessions better than when he sat, and the defense was 4.4 points per 100 better.
Wizards head coach Randy Wittman told J. Michael of CSNWashington.com that Nene looks healthy.
“He’s doing great. He has an off-season home in Denver so he has been spending some time there,” Wizards coach Randy Wittman told CSN Washington. “Monday though Friday, it’s physical therapy. It was important for him to get his body back to health…
“It’s not so much with Nene that you’re looking to develop a lot of his game. Nene has been there,” Wittman said. “It’s important for him to do what he has to do so when he comes back here at the end of September that he’s ready to go. There are no restrictions. He’s doing great. He’s felt as good as he’s felt in a long time.”
Making the playoffs is the goal in the Wizards locker room. Keeping Nene healthy will go along way to making that goal a reality.