Denver Nuggets forward Nene Hilario underwent surgery Monday to remove a testicular tumour and is sidelined indefinitely.

Dr. Fernando Kim performed the procedure at the Denver Medical Center, and is awaiting the results from a biopsy to determine if the tumour was cancerous.

Nene, left, is sidelined indefinitely.
(Eric Gay/Associated Press)

"Nene is recovering well and in good condition," Kim said. "It [the tumour] was managed surgically."

The tumour was discovered last week during an examination by Nuggets physician Dr. Saurabh Mangalik.

"I thank God that we could detect this at such an early stage," Nene said.

Nene, 25, had surgery earlier this season to repair a torn ligament in his left thumb suffered in a 119-93 loss to the Boston Celtics last Nov. 7.

He missed 22 games.

"Our job now is to support Nene and be there for him as a family," said Nuggets head coach George Karl, who overcame prostate cancer.

"Basketball is at the bottom of the totem pole at a time like this. We just want him to get healthy."
 
Nene is a career 53-per-cent shooter as a pro, but is averaging only 6.4 points on 45.5 per cent shooting from the floor this season, his sixth with the Nuggets.

He averaged 12.2 points, 7.0 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 26.8 minutes a game in 64 games last season.

Nene played only three minutes the previous season, suffering a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee in Denver's 102-91 season-opening loss at San Antonio.

Even so, the Nuggets signed him to a six-year, $60-million US contract on July 20, 2006.

The Brazilian native has averaged 11.0 points, 6.4 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 28.0 minutes in 282 NBA games (191 starts) since being drafted seventh overall in 2002 by New York.

The Knicks traded his negotiating rights with Marcus Camby and Mark Jackson to Denver for Antonio McDyess, Frank Williams and a second-round pick.

With files from the Associated Press