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Nene has grown increasingly frustrated with the direction the team has taken in recent weeks, and he hasn’t hidden his disappointment as he continues to play limited minutes because of plantar fasciitis in his left foot. In just 26 minutes against Cleveland, Nene had 16 points, seven rebounds and two blocked shots. The Wizards outscored the Cavaliers by 25 points while the center was on the floor. Washington Post

Washington Wizards, Nene 

The Wizards had just lost their eighth straight game, an 87-84 defeat to the Cavaliers, and Seraphin was hardly noticeable with four points and no rebounds in 12 minutes. The third-year forward rolled his chair over to talk with the 11-year NBA veteran and got an earful. “He was really mad at me,” Seraphin said. “He’s like the leader right now. He’s trying to help the team the best way and he really thinks I’m an important player for this team and I’ve been struggling for like the last five games and he told me that. “He told me straight up, ‘You should play more than 12 minutes.’ I’m supposed to be ready for the game. I’m supposed to play good. He said, ‘Maybe if you were playing good, maybe we got more chances to win the game.’ That’s what he told me, he was just like, he was mad.” CSNWashington.com

Washington Wizards, Kevin Seraphin, Nene 

There's no question that Nene is still one of the league's most talented bigs, capable of scoring with both hands. He's a willing and able passer and one of the best big men in the league at drawing charges. But the book on him in Denver was that he couldn't push himself through injuries, that he spent way too much time in the trainer's room to be a leader. And yet, he was the one with tears in his eyes Saturday night, his feet in ice, his knees wrapped up, after playing 26 minutes in his first start of the season. "When you play with confidence, and you're together, it's different," Nene said. "You feel, you know your teammates know you, and you give your best. But right here, right now, it's the opposite. Total opposite." NBA.com

Washington Wizards, Nene 

And why is that not happening in D.C.? "Because people have no respect for the game," he continued. "They think this opportunity's nothing right now. That's the problem with the young guys. They don't take advantage of being in the NBA, the best basketball in the world. A lot of young guys want to be in their position. But right here, I don't think they realize that." NBA.com

Washington Wizards, Nene 

"My job is to play hard, to give my best on the basketball court," he said. "The responsibility is the manager and the coach. But somebody needs to talk to them." NBA.com

Washington Wizards, Nene 

Robin Young, the fifth and final stop of the day, is the grandmother of five children. She was given custody after her son was killed in 2005. She also has permanent custody of her great nieces after their mother was entered into hospice care with a fatal disease. As the bus pulled up to the house in Southeast, 10-year-old Bryan watched from the front porch with wide eyes and a dropped jaw. The sight of his favorite athletes walking in the door was too much for the child, who has had a difficult adjustment since losing his father. As Nene walked in, Bryan threw his arms around the waist of the Brazilian big man and started sobbing. Nene passed his armful of presents over to a teammate so he could return the embrace. When he was able to pull away, I asked Bryan why he hugged Nene. “He’s a basketball player,” he said, wiping his eyes with the back of his hand. “He’s a superstar.” Washington Post

Washington Wizards, Nene 

Two days earlier with the Wizards desperate for a win, Nene unexpectedly participated in his first game in more than three months. Although the outcome was a 101-100 loss to the Atlanta Hawks after officials ruled Martell Webster’s layup that would have won the game came after the buzzer, Nene’s presence infused confidence throughout the team, especially considering he played with multiple ailments. “Nothing’s changed,” said Nene, who until Wednesday had not played in an organized game since Aug. 8 as part of the Brazilian national team in the London Olympics. “Now I have news. My quad is sore. I tried to compensate on my left because my left is my strong leg. My quad’s a little sore. It’s going to take a while.” Washington Post

Washington Wizards, Injuries, Nene 

They are now the 13th team in NBA history to start a season with 10 straight losses. The record is 18 in a row. “We’re going to take the big gorilla off our back and I think it’s going to go smooth,” Nene said afterward. “We did a good job. We need to pay attention to little detail at the end of the game. Like rebound, recognizing the hot guy on the other team and those kind of mistakes cost us the victory.” Washington Post

Washington Wizards, Nene 

Nene finished tying his shoes, stood up, grimaced, then shook both legs and twisted his ankles. As his teammates started running laps around the court before shootaround at Philips Arena, Nene stepped on the floor, aware that many want to know if he will be available when the Wizards play the Hawks tonight. “It’s a chance,” Nene said, scrunching his face as he stretched. “If you ask now, I’d say no.” Washington Post

Washington Wizards, Injuries, Nene 

Chris Miller: Can confirm Nene practiced for only one hour today before flight to Atlanta. Still a game time decision tomorrow. #WizardsTalk Twitter @cmillscsn

Washington Wizards, Injuries, Nene 

With the Wizards (0-5) one of just two remaining winless teams in the NBA and John Wall also injured, Nene admitted he feels pressure to return and help on the court, not just serve as some cheerleader or sage veteran passing along wisdom. But the desire to fix a problem that has plagued him for nearly 11 months outweighs the temptation to rush back. “I want that thing to heal 100 percent, because I don’t want to shrink my career,” Nene said. “I need to take care of it right now. I want to finish the pain, because it is still painful. I try sometimes, like, ‘Hurry up,’ when I have physical therapy. That could be a mistake. I need to be true with myself and know this is a serious situation.” Washington Post

Washington Wizards, Injuries, Nene 

Sam Amico: Wizards' opening-night starters: Emeka Okafor, Trevor Booker, Trevor Ariza, Bradley Beal, AJ Price. John Wall (knee), Nene (foot) out. Twitter @SamAmicoFSO

Washington Wizards, John Wall, Injuries, Nene 

Nene is trying to stay optimistic but remains uncertain about when he will be able to return because of plantar fasciitis in his left foot. Sidelined since he aggravated the injury while representing Brazil in the London Olympics last August, Nene visited a foot specialist in Baltimore this week and received electric stimulation treatment for the nagging problem. “I was a little behind, than I thought,” Nene said, when explaining the reason for the treatment. “It’s still inflamed. I just want to take care of it the right way. But all the exercises, I’ve been doing fine. I’ve been listening. I’ve been obedient.” Washington Post

Washington Wizards, Nene 

Little more than two months later, the two cornerstones of the rebuilding efforts – Wall and Nene – are both sidelined with injuries before the training camp began. Leonsis expects to have Wall in about seven weeks, and for hopes Nene will be available for the season opener on Oct. 30, but he tempered expectations slightly when asked on Thursday about his draft-night comments. “We would all find it unacceptable if we finished with the second- or third-worst record in the NBA this year,” Leonsis said. “That would be a failure and the failure would start with me.” Washington Post

Washington Wizards, John Wall, Ted Leonsis, Nene 

Nene declined to offer a timetable when asked about when he planned to come back from an injury that he aggravated during the London Olympics and cost him 10 games last season in Washington. “I don’t give specific time,” Nene said on Monday during media day. “I come here every day take care of myself, see when I feel really good, when I feel strong to do all things I need to do on the court. That’s the time.” Washington Post

Washington Wizards, Injuries, Nene 

Washington Wizards center Nene’s status for the start of training camp next Tuesday remains in doubt after his plantar fasciitis flared up during the Olympics, team president Ernie Grunfeld said in a news conference today at Verizon Center. Playing for Brazil, Nene’s condition apparently became acute during a game against Australia. Nene scored 10 points and added seven rebounds in a 75-71 win in the opening round but walked with a slight limp after the game. “He hasn’t had must time to rest this summer because of the commitment he had to his national team,” Grunfeld said of Nene, who missed a game in the Olympics because of soreness in his left foot. “So we’re going to be very, very cautious. We’re going to take it very slow with him and make sure he’s 100 percent when we put him out there full time.” Washington Post

Washington Wizards, Injuries, Nene 

Michael Lee: Ernie Grunfeld wasn't optimistic #wizards will have Nene for 2adays when training camp begins but expects him to be ready for season opener Twitter

Washington Wizards, Nene 

Nene sat out the final game of pool play for Brazil on Monday with soreness in his left foot, but the Wizards have been monitoring the injury and remain optimistic that it will not be a problem when training camp begins on Oct. 2, according to a source with knowledge of the team’s thinking. Washington Post

Washington Wizards, Injuries, Nene, Brazil, Olympics 

Nene is expected to be available on Wednesday when Brazil (4-1) plays Argentina in the quarterfinals. Brazilian Coach Ruben Magnano rested Nene against Spain, but his team still won, 88-82, in a game that it didn’t need to win and possibly set up a more difficult path for a medal. Brazil is seeking its first Olympic medal since 1964. Washington Post

Washington Wizards, Injuries, Nene, Brazil, Olympics 

Michael Lee: Nene isn't playing for Brazil vs Spain because of plantar fasciitis in his left foot. Injury has flared up again. He apparently needs rest Twitter

Washington Wizards, Injuries, Nene, Brazil, Olympics