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Nene wants to re-sign with Rockets: 'They brought a young Nene back'

Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports / Action Images

Nene has found the fountain of youth in Houston.

Thursday's Game 6 loss to the San Antonio Spurs spelled the end of the Rockets' 2016-17 campaign, Nene's first with the club after signing a one-year deal worth about $2.9 million last summer.

The 34-year-old free agent hopes it's the first of many more to come.

"Of course I would like to be back," he told reporters Friday. "They brought me back. They brought a young Nene back. When you're happy, when you feel good, when you feel engaged and trust people (with whom) you work, of course you want to be back.

"It's great, it's been blessed. ... I've been through a lot of situations, but here I got young, I got healthy, and I got happy, so of course I want to be back."

The center had one of his most efficient seasons to date with the No. 3 Rockets under coach Mike D'Antoni. He averaged 9.1 points on a true shooting percentage of 63 to go along with 4.2 rebounds and an assist in 17.9 minutes off the bench in his 15th NBA season.

Related: Nene ties playoff record for most field goals without a miss

Unfortunately, the year didn't end the way he hoped. Nene suffered a torn left adductor in Game 4 against the Spurs, ruling him out for the remainder of the West semis.

But then again, the injury may have ultimately helped his cause, as the Rockets dropped both games without him, losing by a whopping 39 points Thursday.

It's also worth noting the knock wasn't as bad as the Brazilian initially thought. Though he was under the impression he'd require surgery that would keep him on the shelf for four-to-six months, it turns out he'll need just six-to-eight weeks of physiotherapy.

Nene is the lone 2017 free agent for the Rockets, who have 10 players locked up for a combined $87 million in guaranteed salary for next season, when the cap is projected at $101 million.

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