Neemias Queta of Portugal discusses his personal path and his time playing with the Boston Celtics.
Boston: With each game, centre Neemias Queta, the first Portuguese player in the NBA, has grown more valuable to the Boston Celtics.
In 13.13 minutes on February 14, he scored eight points and pulled down four rebounds (two offensive and two defensive) as the team defeated the Brooklyn Nets 136-86. His 23rd NBA game of the year was that one.
“I’m getting excellent treatment. Queta told O Jornal, “I’m very happy with the way things have developed.” “Both individually and as a team, the season has gone really well, and we have been playing really well. It’s now just a matter of staying on this course to ensure a joyous end to the year.
Although Queta signed a two-way contract with the Celtics in September, his work and performances have always been lauded by Coach Joe Mazzulla. His performances appear to have thrilled the crowd as well.
He has so far taken home three Tommy Awards, which are given to the player who put in the most effort, went above and beyond what was expected of them, and made a significant impact on the game at the conclusion of each round.
“The fans are able to support us in an incredible way, and I feel more and more at home,” Queta remarked. “I always feel so loved everywhere I go because Boston has such amazing fans.” I am quite grateful for this type of assistance.
How are Neemias Queta’s contract negotiations going with the Celtics?
In remarks to the public a few weeks prior, Brad Stevens, the President of Basketball Operations for the Boston Celtics, commended Queta and disclosed that he is being evaluated for a regular deal.
Steves once said, “Neemy has done a great job.”
Queta laughed before saying, “If there were negotiations, it would already be done,” in response to the question of whether they were ongoing.
He went on, “It’s not up to me; it’s not me that you should be asking.” However, I seldom give that any thought. Since the start of the year, I’ve known that I work here, and I couldn’t be happier. I’m on the correct course, so from there, it’s just a matter of completing my work.”
He has the honour of working with legendary Celtics veterans like Kristaps Porzingis and Al Horford, who have guided and assisted him.
According to Queta, “We all derive trust from each other.” “Seeing veterans who have been in the league for such a long time, with so many titles and trophies, and with so much experience, I think will give me a little more confidence.” It boosts my confidence a little. Knowing that they are on my side helps me feel more confident when I’m on the floor.
But on Feb. 8, the trade deadline, the Celtics signed Forward/Center Xavier Tillman from the Memphis Grizzlies. For some, this addition could jeopardize Queta’s chances of receiving a standard contract, although there is still an open 15th roster spot.
“I don’t see it that way,” Queta said. “It’s all very relative; they’re opinions. Everyone is entitled to their opinion. What I see is that competition for the position is always good. And after that, let the cards fall where they may, let the coach decide, let him decide what’s best for the team.”
The 7-foot center noted he is feeling much better.
“I work every day with the same goal, which is to get better, and I have teammates who help me become better every day,” he said. “From there, it’s a matter of sequence and I think I have everything I need to keep improving.”
Queta: Portuguese community has been a great supporter
According to Queta, he has encountered “many people from the Portuguese community or of Portuguese descent,” and the Portuguese community in the Boston region has been helpful.
He remarked, “I feel very welcomed.”
Many young people in Portugal are now inspired by his achievements to aspire to be the “new Neemias.”
In fact, Queta’s entry into the NBA “is a tremendous vehicle of promotion for the sport” in Portugal, according to Andreas Zagklis, secretary general of the International Basketball Federation (FIBA).
Zagklis was paying a courtesy call at the time to the Portuguese Basketball Federation’s offices in Lisbon in honour of FIBA’s 90th anniversary. Portugal was among the original participants.
“Idiomas, role models, and iconic players—both male and female—are necessary for young generations,” he declared. “That implies that more kids will want to don the jersey, grab the ball, and go play outside.”
Queta said he strives to set a good example for the next generation when questioned about the idea of serving as a role model for younger followers.
“Everyone knows that I’m a very shy person and I don’t really like those types of comparisons,” he said. “But if they want to see me as an example, good for them. Let what I do be a good example.”
Where did the Celtics get Queta from?
Queta, a native of Guinea-Bissau, was reared in the Setúbal district of Lisbon after being born there in 1999…
He became a member of the NBA in 2021 after the Sacramento Kings selected him in the second round of the draft.
He was waived on September 12, 2023, following two seasons in which he was unable to make a name for himself with the Kings.
“It wasn’t unexpected,” he clarified. “You know what’s happening, so it’s just a matter of moving on without holding grudges.”
A week later, the Portuguese centre received a two-way contract offer from the Boston Celtics, who were impressed by his potential.
Queta on his journey from Portuguese basketball to the NBA
Queta revealed he was about 10 years old when he watched his first basketball game. His sister took him to a Barreirense game, and he immediately became a fan of the sport.
“It was through my sister that the basketball bug got me,” he said. “I started playing basketball because of her and since that day I’ve never looked back.”
He started playing with Barreirense and later moved to Sport Lisboa e Benfica. But the window to basketball stardom began to open when he represented Portugal’s U-18 team at the 2017 European Championship.
He led the tournament in blocked shots, averaging 2.9 per game. He also contributed averages of 14.3 points and 10.3 rebounds. In the win over the Netherlands, he came very close to a rare triple-double, with 20 points, 14 rebounds and nine blocks.
“That’s when I started to gain visibility,” he said. “I started to get offers from colleges to come and play college basketball, and from then on it was a domino effect… from then on everything went well for me.”
Initially, he was leaning to accept offers from Texas Tech or Creighton, as Utah State University was slow to offer a scholarship. But Diogo Brito, a Portuguese player who was in his third year at Utah State and had been a classmate of his sister, ended up playing an important role in his decision to move to Utah.
“It was a mix of factors but having Diogo on the team where I was going to be was a great influence,” he explained. “He had already been in the same class as my older sister and he was an influence in that respect, having someone I could talk to in Portuguese in college, someone I had things in common with and could make my life a little easier there. It was something that contributed a lot to my coming to Utah State.”
Culturally, the state of Utah is very different from Portugal, so he initially struggled to adapt to the new reality.
“I was very young; I was 19 years old. Moving to a completely different country, a completely different area, in terms of weather, culture, ways of living, food – all that plays a role. But I think it was the right decision, everything would work out there.”
