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Nehemiah Queta (* July 13, 1999 in Lisbon, Portugal) is a Portuguese basketball player who plays as a center at the Boston Celtics in the NBA. With his selection in the 2021 NBA draft in 2021, he became the first Portuguese, which was ever drafted and played in the NBA.
Queta started his basketball career at Barreirense (2009–2017) and then played for Benfica Lisbon (2017–2018). In 2018 he moved to Utah State University, where he played Aggies for Utah State. In his college career, he was awarded several times, including as Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year (2019, 2021) as well as as First‑team All‑Mountain West (2021). In the 2020-21 season, he scored an average of 14.9 points, 10.1 rebounds and 3.3 blocks per game.[[1]
In the 2021 NBA draft 2021, Queta was selected in 39.[[2] He gave his NBA debut in December 2021. In the following years he played for the Sacramento Kings and temporarily for their G-League team, the Stockton Kings.
In September 2023, Queta signed a Two Way contract with the Boston Celtics. He contributed to the Celtics championship in the 2023–24 season and thus secured his first NBA title. He became the first Portuguese player to win an NBA title.[[3]
Queta played for Portugal at various European junior European championships and in the A-National team at the 2025 European Central Basketball Championship, in which he has contributed significantly to the first victory of Portugal since 2007 in the first group game against the Czech Republic (23 points, 18 rebounds, 4 blocks, 2 steals).[[4] Portugal resigned against world champion Germany in the round of 16; Queta was the best player in his team again with 18 points and 11 rebounds.
- NBA‑Champion (2024)
- All‑NBA G League First Team (2023)
- NBA G League All‑Defensive Team (2023)
- First‑team All‑Mountain West (2021)
- 2× Second‑team All‑Mountain West (2019, 2020)
- 2× Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year (2019, 2021)
- 3× Mountain West All‑Defensive Team (2019–2021)
- Mountain West Freshman of the Year (2019)
| legend | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | Played games (Games played) | GS | Games right from the start (Games started) | MPG | Completed minutes per game (Minutes per game) |
| FG % | Surfal quota from the field (Field-goal percentage) | 3p % | Surfal quota three-point throws (3-point field-goal percentage) |
FT % | FROWING FRIQUE (Free-throw percentage) |
| RPG | Rebounds pro Spiel (Rebounds per game) | APG | Assists pro Spiel (Assists per game) | SPG | Steals per game (Steals per game) |
| GDP | Blocks per game (Blocks per game) | PPG | Points per game (Points per game) | FETT | Career stamp |
| Saison | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG % | 3p % | FT % | RPG | APG | SPG | GDP | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021–22 | Sacramento | 15 | 0 | 8.0 | .447 | — | .647 | 2.1 | .4 | .1 | .5 | 3.0 |
| 2022–23 | Sacramento | 5 | 0 | 5.7 | .667 | — | .000 | 2.2 | .2 | .0 | .4 | 2.4 |
| 2023–24 | Boston | 28 | 0 | 11.9 | .644 | — | .714 | 4.4 | .7 | .5 | .8 | 5.5 |
| 2024–25 | Boston | 62 | 6 | 13.9 | .650 | — | .754 | 3.8 | .7 | .3 | .7 | 5.0 |
| In total | 110 | 6 | 12.2 | .627 | — | .713 | 3.6 | .7 | .3 | .7 | 4.7 | |
| Saison | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG % | 3p % | FT % | RPG | APG | SPG | GDP | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023–24 | Boston | 3 | 0 | 4.5 | .667 | — | — | 1.0 | .0 | .0 | .3 | 1.3 |
| 2024–25 | Boston | 4 | 0 | 3.3 | .833 | — | — | 0.5 | .5 | .3 | .0 | 2.5 |
| In total | 7 | 0 | 3.7 | .778 | — | — | 0.7 | .3 | .1 | .1 | 2.0 | |
| Saison | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG % | 3p % | FT % | RPG | APG | SPG | GDP | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018–19 | Utah State | 35 | 35 | 27.1 | .614 | .400 | .565 | 8.9 | 1.6 | .7 | 2.4 | 11.8 |
| 2019–20 | Utah State | 22 | 20 | 26.7 | .624 | 1.000 | .670 | 7.8 | 1.9 | .4 | 1.7 | 13.0 |
| 2020–21 | Utah State | 29 | 29 | 30.0 | .559 | .000 | .707 | 10.1 | 2.7 | 1.1 | 3.3 | 14.9 |
| In total | 86 | 84 | 28.0 | .594 | .375 | .646 | 9.0 | 2.0 | .7 | 2.5 | 13.2 | |
- ↑ https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/players/neemias-queta-1.html
- ↑ https://www.eurohoops.net/en/nba-news/1233788/neemias-queta-makes-history-first-portuguese-player-selected-in-the-nba-draft/
- ↑ https://www.eurohoops.net/en/nba-news/1233788/neemias-queta-makes-history-first-portuguese-player-selected-in-the-nba-draft/
- ↑ https://www.fiba.basketball/en/events/fiba-eurobasket-2025/news/quetas-monster-game-propels-portugal-to-first-win-in-18-years
Neemias Queta’s journey to teh NBA is a testament to his dedication and talent. From his early days in Portugal to becoming the first portuguese player drafted and winning an NBA championship, Queta’s career is marked by meaningful achievements. This article details his career,highlighting key stats and achievements.
| Year | Team | League/Competition | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009-2017 | Barreirense | Youth Leagues (Portugal) | Player | Developed skills at the youth level. |
| 2017-2018 | Benfica Lisbon | Youth Leagues (Portugal) | Player | Continued development, showcasing his potential. |
| 2018-2021 | Utah State Aggies | NCAA (Mountain West) | Center | Two-time Mountain West Defensive Player of the year |
| 2021-2023 | Sacramento Kings/ stockton Kings | NBA/NBA G League | Center | played for both teams, gaining valuable experience |
| 2023-Present | Boston Celtics | NBA | Center | Won NBA Championship in 2024. Current NBA player |
Key achievements and Career Highlights
- First Portuguese Player Drafted and Played in NBA: A landmark achievement and a source of national pride.
- NBA Champion (2024): Secured his first NBA title with the Boston Celtics.
- Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year (2019, 2021): Demonstrated his defensive prowess in college.
- NBA G League First Team (2023): Recognized for his extraordinary performance in the G League.
- Key contributor for Portugal National Team: leading the portugal in several games.
Neemias Queta FAQ
Here are some frequently asked questions about Neemias Queta:
- who is Neemias Queta?
- Neemias Queta is a Portuguese professional basketball player currently playing center for the Boston Celtics in the NBA. He is the first Portuguese player to be drafted into the NBA and to win an NBA championship.
- When was Neemias Queta drafted into the NBA?
- Neemias queta was drafted in 2021 by the Sacramento Kings as the 39th overall pick.
- What team does Neemias Queta play for now?
- Neemias Queta currently plays for the Boston Celtics.
- What are Neemias Queta’s main achievements?
- His main achievements include being the first Portuguese player drafted and to play in the NBA, winning an NBA championship with the Boston Celtics in 2024, and multiple awards during his college career, especially as the Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year
- Where did Neemias queta play college basketball?
- Neemias Queta played college basketball at Utah State University.
- has neemias Queta played for the Portuguese national team?
- Yes, Neemias Queta has represented Portugal in various competitions, including the 2025 European Central Basketball Championship, where he led the team to victory.
- What is Neemias Queta’s playing style?
- Known for his strong defensive abilities and rebounding skills, Queta is a center that excels in protecting the paint and contributing on both ends of the court.
Neemias Queta’s story inspires many as a role model for young athletes, illustrating the journey from local leagues to international success. His journey is about perseverance and a dedication to his craft. Now,as he continues his NBA career with the Boston Celtics,basketball fans keenly anticipate his future achievements.
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