Neemias Queta

Last updated
Neemias Queta
Neemias Queta celebrates successful basket.jpg
Queta with the Utah State Aggies in 2020
No. 88–Boston Celtics
Position Center
League NBA
Personal information
Born (1999-07-13) 13 July 1999 (age 24)
Lisbon, Portugal
Listed height7 ft 0 in (2.13 m)
Listed weight247 lb (112 kg)
Career information
College Utah State (2018–2021)
NBA draft 2021: 2nd round, 39th overall pick
Selected by the Sacramento Kings
Playing career2017–2018; 2021–present
Career history
2009–2017 Barreirense
2017–2018 Benfica
2021–2023 Sacramento Kings
2021–2023 →Stockton Kings
2023–present Boston Celtics
2023–2024 →Maine Celtics
Career highlights and awards
Stats   OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg at NBA.com
Stats   OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg at Basketball-Reference.com
Medals
Men's Basketball
Representing Flag of Portugal.svg  Portugal
FIBA U-20 European Championship Division B
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 2019 Portugal Team

Neemias Esdras Barbosa Queta (born 13 July 1999) is a Portuguese professional basketball player for the Boston Celtics of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He started playing basketball in 2009 for Barreirense and later played college basketball for the Utah State Aggies. A 7-foot-tall (2.1 m), 250-pound (110 kg) center, he was selected with the 39th overall pick in the 2021 NBA draft, being the first Portuguese player ever drafted. He became the first Portuguese player ever to play in the NBA on 17 December 2021.

Contents

Early life and career

Queta was born in Lisbon, Portugal to Bissau-Guinean parents Mica and Djaneuba Queta. [1] [2] He was raised in Vale da Amoreira, in the municipality of Moita. He began playing youth basketball at age 10 with Barreirense after following his older sister to a tryout. [2] [3]

On 29 August 2018, Queta signed to play college basketball for the Utah State Aggies in the United States, as he had no other collegiate offers. [4] [5]

College career

On 19 November 2018, Queta recorded a freshman season-high 24 points, nine rebounds, and five blocks in an 80–63 win over Saint Mary's. [6] As a freshman, he averaged 11.8 points, 8.9 rebounds and 2.4 blocks per game, earning Second-team All-Mountain West, Freshman of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year honors. [7] He set the program single-season record with 84 blocks. He declared for the 2019 NBA draft before withdrawing and returning to college. [8] Queta missed the first nine games of his sophomore season with a knee injury. [9] As a sophomore, he averaged 13 points, 7.8 rebounds and 1.7 blocks per game, repeating on the Second-team All-Mountain West and All-Defensive Team. [10]

On 17 February 2021, Queta posted a career-high 32 points and 10 rebounds in a 79–70 loss to Boise State. [11] On 12 March, he tallied 18 points, 14 rebounds and a school-record nine blocks in a 62–50 win against Colorado State at the Mountain West tournament semifinals. [12] In his junior season, Queta averaged 14.9 points, 10.1 rebounds, 3.3 blocks and 2.7 assists per game. He was named to the First-team All-Mountain West and Defensive Player of the Year. [13] Queta was one of four finalists for the Naismith Defensive Player of the Year Award. [12] He broke his own program blocks record, ranked third nationally in blocks per game, and left as Utah State's all-time leader in blocks. [1] On 29 March, Queta declared for the 2021 NBA draft, forgoing his remaining college eligibility. [14]

Professional career

Benfica (2017–2018)

In the 2017–18 season, Queta played four professional games for Benfica in the Portuguese Basketball League. [15] On 31 August 2018, he parted ways with Benfica. [16]

Sacramento Kings (2021–2023)

Queta was selected in the second round of the 2021 NBA draft with the 39th pick by the Sacramento Kings, becoming the first Portuguese player to be drafted in the NBA. [17] On 8 August 2021, he signed a two-way contract with Sacramento, splitting time with their NBA G League affiliate, the Stockton Kings. [18] On August 17, 2021, the Sacramento Kings win the NBA Summer League, beating the Boston Celtics, 100-67. Queta was a regular presence in all the games of the Californian team, which had not won the Las Vegas tournament since 2014, the year in which they defeated the Houston Rockets.

On 17 December 2021, Queta made his NBA debut against the Memphis Grizzlies, grabbing five rebounds and adding an assist and a block. [19] He entered COVID-19 protocols on 21 December, but was cleared to return to the Kings on December 30.

Queta made his return to the G League on 5 January 2022, recording 21 points and 12 rebounds for Stockton in a 103–80 win over the Birmingham Squadron. [20] On 11 January 2022, Queta became the first Portuguese player to score points in the NBA, recording 11 points and 5 rebounds in a 109–108 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers. [21]

Queta was named to the G League's inaugural Next Up Game for the 2022–23 season. [22]

Even though he was not a regular option for the Sacramento Kings, Neemias Queta was the Californian team's most voted player for the 2022 NBA All Star Game. The Portuguese post received 88,534 votes from the public and also had one vote from an NBA player.

On 8 August 2023, Queta signed a standard contract with Sacramento, [23] but was waived on 12 September. [24]

Boston Celtics (2023–present)

On 19 September 2023, Queta signed a two-way contract with the Boston Celtics. [25]

On 26 November 2023, Neemias Queta contributed with seven points and a personal record of 10 rebounds in the NBA to the Boston Celtics' home victory over the Atlanta Hawks (113-103). In the end, he was awarded a Tommy Award, an award that recognizes players who excel in their team's defense and who have an impact that cannot be translated into statistical data. [26]

On 19 December 2023, in the Boston Celtics' 132-126 loss to the Golden State Warriors, Queta recorded his first double-double by notching 10 points and 10 rebounds in 21 minutes on the floor. He repeated the feat four days later against the Los Angeles Clippers, scoring 14 points with 10 rebounds.

With a positive highlight this season in the colors of the Celtics, Queta came in 49th place in the Eastern vote for power forwards and centers for the 2024 All Star game, having collected 15,967 votes from fans, two from NBA players and none from journalists.

On 8 April 2024, Queta signed a standard contract with the Boston Celtics. The commitment came after the positive performances of the Portuguese center in the campaign of the Maine Celtics, in the G League, during the playoffs, which culminated in a performance of 16 points and 19 rebounds in the triumph against the Long Island Nets in the final of the Eastern conference of that league and consequent qualification of the team for the final. [27]

With 19 points, nine rebounds, six blocks and one assist in just 19 minutes on the field in the victory (132-122) against the Washington Wizards in the last game of the regular season on April 14, 2023, Queta did something never before seen in the history of the NBA, achieving an unprecedented feat. [28]

On April 15, 2024, he became runner-up in the NBA G League with the Maine Celtics having lost by the best of three games to Oklahoma City Blue.

National team career

Queta represented Portugal at the 2017 FIBA U18 European Championship Division B in Estonia, where he averaged 10.2 points, 8.6 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks per game. [15] He competed at the 2018 FIBA U20 European Championship Division B in Bulgaria, averaging 14.1 points, 10.3 rebounds and 2.9 blocks per game. [5] At the 2019 FIBA U20 European Championship Division B in Portugal, Queta led the host nation to a gold medal. He averaged 14.3 points, 11 rebounds and two blocks per game, earning all-tournament team honors. In the semifinals, he suffered a left knee injury that sidelined him from the final. [29]

Neemias Queta was chosen as the 2022 Personality of the Year for the Portuguese Basketball Federation, and for this reason his name was nominated by the FPB for the 26th Sports Gala, of the Portuguese Sports Confederation. [30]

Career statistics

Legend
  GPGames played  GS Games started MPG Minutes per game
 FG%  Field goal percentage 3P%  3-point field goal percentage FT%  Free throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game APG  Assists per game SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game PPG Points per game Bold Career high

NBA

YearTeamGPGSMPGFG%3P%FT%RPGAPGSPGBPGPPG
2021–22 Sacramento 1508.0.447—.6472.1.4.1.53.0
2022–23 Sacramento 505.7.667—.0002.2.2.0.42.4
2023–24 Boston 28011.9.644—.7144.4.7.5.85.5
Career48010.0.596—.6601.9.6.3.64.4

College

Neemias Queta college career statistics
YearTeamGPGSMPGFG%3P%FT%RPGAPGSPGBPGPPG
2018–19 Utah State 353527.1.614.400.5658.91.6.72.411.8
2019–20 Utah State 222026.7.6241.000.6707.81.9.41.713.0
2020–21 Utah State 292930.0.559.000.70710.12.71.13.314.9
Career868428.0.594.375.6469.02.0.72.513.2

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pervis Ellison</span> American basketball player (born 1967)

Pervis Ellison is an American former National Basketball Association (NBA) player. Nicknamed "Never Nervous Pervis" for his clutch play with the University of Louisville, after leading Louisville to a national championship, Ellison was the first overall pick in the 1989 NBA Draft. His professional career was largely hindered by injuries, though he won the NBA Most Improved Player Award in 1992.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mikki Moore</span> American basketball player (born 1975)

Clinton Renard "Mikki" Moore is an American former professional basketball player.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shelden Williams</span> American former professional basketball player

Shelden DeMar Williams is an American former professional basketball player. Nicknamed "The Landlord", he played college basketball for the Duke Blue Devils, and later played in the NBA for parts of seven seasons.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paul Millsap</span> American basketball player (born 1985)

Paul Millsap is an American former professional basketball player. A power forward from Louisiana Tech University, Millsap was selected by the Utah Jazz in the second round of the 2006 NBA draft and was named to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team. He played in Utah until 2013, when he became a member of the Atlanta Hawks. Millsap has also played for the Denver Nuggets and Brooklyn Nets. He is a four-time NBA All-Star.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kosta Koufos</span> Greek-American Basketball player (born 1989)

Konstantine Demetrios "Kosta" Koufos is a Greek-American professional basketball player who is a free agent. He played one season at Ohio State before being selected by the Utah Jazz with the 23rd overall pick in the 2008 NBA draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">DeAndre Jordan</span> American basketball player (born 1988)

Hyland DeAndre Jordan Jr. is an American professional basketball player for the Denver Nuggets of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played one season of college basketball for the Texas A&M Aggies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alec Burks</span> American basketball player (born 1991)

Alec Burks is an American professional basketball player for the New York Knicks of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He was selected by the Utah Jazz as the 12th overall pick in the 2011 NBA draft. Burks primarily plays the shooting guard position.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Domantas Sabonis</span> Lithuanian-American basketball player

Domantas Sabonis is a Lithuanian-American professional basketball player for the Sacramento Kings of the National Basketball Association (NBA) and the Lithuanian national team. Son of the Hall of Fame player Arvydas Sabonis, Sabonis is an All-NBA Team member and three-time NBA All-Star.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alex Len</span> Ukrainian basketball player (born 1993)

OleksiiYuriyovychLen, commonly known as Alex Len, is a Ukrainian professional basketball player for the Sacramento Kings of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Before being drafted, he played two seasons for the Maryland Terrapins as well as a season with Dnipro.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bruno Caboclo</span> Brazilian basketball player (born 1995)

Bruno Correa Fernandes Caboclo is a Brasilian professional basketball player for Partizan of the Basketball League of Serbia (KLS), the Adriatic League and the EuroLeague. He plays at the center position.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Justin Jackson (basketball, born 1995)</span> American basketball player

Justin Aaron Jackson is an American professional basketball player for the Texas Legends of the NBA G League.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Richaun Holmes</span> American basketball player (born 1993)

Richaun Diante Holmes is an American professional basketball player for the Washington Wizards of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for the Bowling Green Falcons where he was named to multiple All-Mid-American Conference teams. Holmes previously played for the Philadelphia 76ers for three seasons before being traded to the Phoenix Suns in the 2018 offseason. He played one season with the Suns before signing with the Sacramento Kings in the 2019 offseason. He has also played for the Dallas Mavericks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">De'Anthony Melton</span> American basketball player (born 1998)

De'Anthony Melton, nicknamed "Mr. Do Something", is an American professional basketball player for the Philadelphia 76ers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for the USC Trojans of the Pac-12 Conference, but did not play in the 2017–18 season due to the events relating to the 2017–18 NCAA Division I men's basketball corruption scandal.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Donte DiVincenzo</span> American basketball player (born 1997)

Donte DiVincenzo is an American professional basketball player for the New York Knicks of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for the Villanova Wildcats, where he won national championships in 2016 and 2018, being named Final Four Most Outstanding Player (MOP) in 2018. Selected with the 17th overall pick by the Milwaukee Bucks in the 2018 NBA draft, DiVincenzo won his first championship with the Bucks in 2021, before being traded to the Sacramento Kings the following season. He holds the Knicks franchise records for single-game and single-season three-point shots made.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mfiondu Kabengele</span> Canadian basketball player (born 1997)

Mfiondu Tshimanga Kabengele is a Congolese-Canadian professional basketball player for Venezia of the Italian Lega Basket Serie A (LBA) and the EuroCup. He played college basketball for the Florida State Seminoles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tyrese Haliburton</span> American basketball player (born 2000)

Tyrese John Haliburton is an American professional basketball player for the Indiana Pacers. A point guard, he played college basketball for the Iowa State Cyclones and was selected by the Sacramento Kings 12th overall in the 2020 NBA draft. In 2022, Haliburton was acquired by the Indiana Pacers as part of a trade package for Domantas Sabonis. He earned back-to-back East All-Star selections, as a reserve in 2023, and as a starter in 2024.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nic Claxton</span> American basketball player (born 1999)

Nicolas Devir Claxton is an American professional basketball player for the Brooklyn Nets of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for the Georgia Bulldogs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Walker Kessler</span> American basketball player (born 2001)

Walker Ross Kessler is an American professional basketball player for the Utah Jazz of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for the North Carolina Tar Heels and Auburn Tigers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Keegan Murray</span> American basketball player (born 2000)

Keegan Murray is an American professional basketball player for the Sacramento Kings of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for the Iowa Hawkeyes before he was selected fourth overall pick by the Sacramento Kings in the 2022 NBA draft. He is the twin brother of Kris Murray.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Keon Ellis</span> American basketball player

Keon Tyrese Ellis is an American professional basketball player for the Sacramento Kings of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for the Florida SouthWestern Buccaneers and the Alabama Crimson Tide.

References

  1. 1 2 "Neemias Queta". Utah State University Athletics. Retrieved 9 March 2019.
  2. 1 2 "Neemias Queta, o português que pode fazer história nos Estados Unidos". Record (in Portuguese). 1 March 2019. Retrieved 9 March 2019.
  3. ↑ Kamrani, Christopher (27 December 2018). "Utah State went all the way to Portugal to find center Neemias Queta. He was worth the trip". The Salt Lake Tribune . Retrieved 9 March 2019.
  4. ↑ "Utah State Basketball Signs Neemias Queta for 2018-19 Season". Utah State University Athletics. 29 August 2018. Retrieved 9 March 2019.
  5. 1 2 Woo, Jeremy (10 January 2019). "Five Mid-Major NBA Draft Prospects to Watch". Sports Illustrated . Retrieved 9 March 2019.
  6. ↑ Denniston, Wade (19 November 2018). "Utah State Cruises Into MGM Main Event Championship Game With 80-63 Victory Over Saint Mary's". Utah State University Athletics. Retrieved 9 March 2019.
  7. ↑ "Three Aggies take home four MWC awards". usustatesman.com. 12 March 2019. Retrieved 16 March 2019.
  8. ↑ Harrison, Shawn (28 May 2019). "USU's Queta declares 'I'm back'". The Herald Journal . Retrieved 26 July 2021.
  9. ↑ Edmonds, Jake (19 January 2020). "USU's Queta slowly returning to pre-injury production". KUTV . Retrieved 26 July 2021.
  10. ↑ Wood, Trent (26 April 2020). "'Together, we can climb to the top of the Mountain West once again': Utah State center Neemias Queta to return for junior season". Deseret News . Retrieved 26 July 2021.
  11. ↑ Greene, Dana (17 February 2021). "Neemias Queta scores 32, but Utah State loses to Boise State, 79-70". KTVX . Retrieved 26 July 2021.
  12. 1 2 "Neemias Queta Named a Finalists for Naismith Defensive Player of the Year". Mountain West Conference. 23 March 2021. Retrieved 26 July 2021.
  13. ↑ Judd, Brandon (9 March 2021). "Utah State's Neemias Queta earns 2nd MWC Defensive Player of Year honor of his career". Deseret News . Retrieved 26 July 2021.
  14. ↑ Givony, Jonathan (28 March 2021). "Utah State center Neemias Queta entering NBA draft". ESPN . Retrieved 28 March 2021.
  15. 1 2 "Neemias Queta Game Logs". RealGM . Retrieved 9 March 2019.
  16. ↑ "Neemias Queta Ruma Aos Estados Unidos". SLBenfica.pt (in Portuguese). S.L. Benfica. 31 August 2018. Retrieved 9 March 2019.
  17. ↑ Anderson, Jason (1 August 2021). "First Portuguese NBA draft pick Neemias Queta will 'represent Portugal the best way I can'". The Sacramento Bee . Retrieved 1 August 2021.
  18. ↑ Nicholson, Nikki (8 August 2021). "Kings Sign Neemias Queta to Two-Way Contract". NBA.com. Retrieved 14 August 2021.
  19. ↑ "Memphis Grizzlies at Sacramento Kings Box Score". Basketball-Reference.com. 17 December 2021. Retrieved 15 September 2023.
  20. ↑ "Kings' Neemias Queta: Plays first game since Dec. 2". CBS Sports . 6 January 2022. Retrieved 6 January 2022.
  21. ↑ Wirth, Taylor (11 January 2022). "Neemias Queta's sacrifices pay off in historic Kings performance". NBC Sports . Retrieved 15 September 2023.
  22. ↑ "Wolves' Garza And Ignite's Henderson Named Captains For NBA G League Next Up Game". NBA.com. 7 February 2023. Retrieved 8 March 2023.
  23. ↑ "Sacramento Kings Sign Neemias Queta". NBA.com. 8 August 2023. Retrieved 8 August 2023.
  24. ↑ "Sacramento Kings Announce Roster Moves". NBA.com. 12 September 2023. Retrieved 12 September 2023.
  25. ↑ "Boston Celtics Sign Queta". NBA.com. 19 September 2023. Retrieved 20 September 2023.
  26. ↑ ""Hoje foi grande": Neemias brilha com sete pontos e dez ressaltos em 15 minutos e recebe elogios dos Celtics". Observador.pt. 27 November 2023. Retrieved 19 February 2024.
  27. ↑ "Celtics Sign Neemias Queta". NBA.com. 8 April 2024. Retrieved 8 April 2024.
  28. ↑ "From Honoring A Legend To Kicking Ass On The Court, The Celtics Wrapped Up Their Historic Regular Season In Spectacular Fashion". barstoolsports.com. 15 April 2024. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
  29. ↑ Harrison, Shawn (24 July 2019). "Utah State's Neemias Queta injures knee at FIBA U20 tournament". Idaho State Journal . Retrieved 27 July 2019.
  30. ↑ "Neemias Queta é a personalidade de 2022 para a FPB". FPB . 2 February 2023. Retrieved 19 February 2024.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.