Team Brazil Basketball Will Miss Its Second NBA Star At Olympic Qualifier After Withdrawal Of Convalescing Nene Hilario

June 8, 2008 7:26 a.m. EST

Sao Paulo, Brazil (AHN) - Denver Nuggets forward Nene Hilario, who is still recovering from cancer treatment, will not play for his native country, Brazil in a pre-Olympic tournament next month in Greece.

In a letter sent by Nuggets team doctor Steven Traina to the Brazilian Basketball Confederation on Friday, the doctor explained that the 6-foot 11-inch tall, 268 pound power forward needs more time to recover following treatment for testicular cancer and other injuries and will have to miss the Olympic qualifying tournament next month in Athens, Greece.

Nene underwent a successful surgery on Jan. 14 at the Denver Health Medical Center to remove a malignant tumor from his testicles. The Brazilian national squad has earlier lost Anderson Varejao of the Cleveland Cavaliers to injury.

Nene had already missed 22 games after the surgery on his left thumb early November.

Brazil, which has not qualified for the Olympics in basketball since 1996, was hoping on the contributions of NBA stars Nene and Varejao in the country's campaign in the coming Athens Olympic qualifier in July.

Nene finished the season with 6.4 points and 6.4 rebounds in the 12 games he played with the Cavaliers this season.