I've been wondering (at times) for a while already, how Max was to his Nephew before the film's time, and especially when he was growing up. I know about Timon's Father's predetermined role in this. But since it was Max who was given his role in the film, let's keep it like that. Shall we?
I think Max was pretty much the same way he was to Timon in the beginning of the film, when Timon started "messing" things up for his meerkat colony. Until the time when he reunites with his Mother and Uncle at Pride Rock, Max never really saw much hope in his Nephew. So that leads me to say that he probably didn't appreciate Timon being part of the colony while he was still growing up.
Although, this could've been different around the time Timon was born. I mean, it's possible that Max didn't mind Ma's newborn, and for a while after that.
But I always wonder how Timon was like, when he first met his Uncle.