Neemias Queta Bio
Neemias Esdras Barbosa Queta is a Portuguese professional basketball player for the Boston Celtics of the National Basketball Association (NBA). A 7-foot-tall center, he was selected with the 39th overall pick in the 2021 NBA draft, becoming the first Portuguese player ever drafted. He later became the first Portuguese player to appear in an NBA game, debuting on 17 December 2021, and won an NBA championship with the Boston Celtics in the 2023–24 season.
Early Life and Background
Neemias Esdras Barbosa Queta was born on 13 July 1999 in Lisbon, Portugal. He was raised in Vale da Amoreira, a parish in the municipality of Moita, by his Bissau-Guinean parents Mica and Djaneuba Queta. The family environment shaped his early years as he grew up in the Lisbon metropolitan area before basketball became a central part of his life.
Queta first picked up the sport at the age of 10 when he accompanied his older sister to a tryout with the local youth program at Barreirense. That introduction quickly turned into a serious commitment, and he began playing organized basketball in 2009. His combination of size and athleticism stood out early, laying the foundation for a professional path that would eventually take him to the United States.
Path to Basketball
Queta spent his formative years developing at Barreirense before joining Benfica for the 2017–18 Portuguese Basketball League season, where he appeared in two professional games. The brief Benfica stint gave him top-level domestic experience as a teenager and helped prepare him for the next step in his career.
In August 2018, he signed to play college basketball for the Utah State Aggies, leaving Portugal to compete in the United States. He quickly established himself as a defensive force, setting a program single-season record with 84 blocks during his freshman year and earning Mountain West Freshman of the Year honors. After briefly declaring for the 2019 NBA draft and then withdrawing, he returned to Utah State and continued to grow into one of the most dominant interior players in the conference.
Neemias Queta Career
College Career (2018–2021)
As a freshman at Utah State, Queta averaged 11.8 points, 8.9 rebounds, and 2.4 blocks per game, earning Second-team All-Mountain West, Defensive Player of the Year, and Freshman of the Year recognition. His sophomore year was interrupted by a knee injury that cost him the first nine games, but he returned to average 13 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 1.7 blocks per game while repeating on the All-Mountain West and All-Defensive teams.
In his junior season, Queta elevated his play to another level, posting a career-high 32 points against Boise State and later recording 18 points, 14 rebounds, and a school-record nine blocks against Colorado State in the Mountain West tournament. He finished the year averaging 14.9 points, 10.1 rebounds, 3.3 blocks, and 2.7 assists per game, was named First-team All-Mountain West and Defensive Player of the Year, and finished as one of four finalists for the Naismith Defensive Player of the Year Award. He left Utah State as the program’s all-time leader in blocks.
NBA Breakthrough with Sacramento (2021–2023)
Queta was selected with the 39th overall pick by the Sacramento Kings in the 2021 NBA draft, becoming the first Portuguese player ever drafted. He signed a two-way contract and split his time between the Kings and their G League affiliate, the Stockton Kings, helping Sacramento win the 2021 NBA Summer League title with a 100–67 victory over the Boston Celtics.
He made his NBA debut on 17 December 2021 against the Memphis Grizzlies, recording five rebounds, an assist, and a block, and later became the first Portuguese player to score in the NBA with 11 points and five rebounds against the Cleveland Cavaliers in January 2022. Across two seasons he earned All-NBA G League First Team, G League All-Defensive Team, and Next Up Game selections before being waived by Sacramento in September 2023.
Boston Celtics Era (2023–Present)
Queta signed a two-way contract with the Boston Celtics in September 2023 and quickly found a role as an interior presence off the bench. He recorded his first NBA double-double in December 2023 and signed a standard contract with the team in April 2024 after a strong G League playoff run with the Maine Celtics, where he posted 16 points and 19 rebounds in the Eastern Conference final.
He made his NBA playoff debut in May 2024 and his NBA Finals debut in June 2024, becoming an NBA champion when the Celtics defeated the Dallas Mavericks in five games. In July 2024 he signed a long-term contract with Boston, and on 4 November 2024 he made his first career NBA start against the Atlanta Hawks, becoming the first Portuguese player to start an NBA game. Heading into 2025–26, he was named the Celtics’ starting center after major offseason changes to Boston’s frontcourt.
Driving Style and Strengths
Queta is widely recognized for his shot-blocking, rebounding, and interior defense. His size and timing allow him to protect the rim at a high level, while his improving footwork and finishing have made him a reliable target near the basket. He has steadily expanded his offensive game, showing touch around the rim and the ability to step out when needed, complementing Boston’s defensive identity.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among his most significant milestones, Queta became the first Portuguese player drafted, the first to play in the NBA, the first to score in the NBA, and the first to start an NBA game. He also became the first Celtics player since Robert Parish in 1989 to record at least 19 points, 18 rebounds, and 2 blocks in a single game, a stat line he reached against the Minnesota Timberwolves on 29 November 2025.
Neemias Queta Career Wins
Queta’s most significant team achievement to date is the 2024 NBA championship won with the Boston Celtics. His G League work with the Stockton and Maine Celtics also produced individual recognition, including selection to the All-NBA G League First Team and the G League All-Defensive Team during the 2022–23 season.
NBA and G League Highlights
In the NBA, Queta’s breakthrough moments include his debut with Sacramento in 2021, his first NBA points in January 2022, and his 2024 NBA title run with the Celtics. In the G League, he earned Next Up Game recognition and delivered a standout 16-point, 19-rebound performance in the 2024 Eastern Conference final for the Maine Celtics.
Other Wins and Performances
On the international stage, Queta led host Portugal to a gold medal at the 2019 FIBA U20 European Championship Division B, earning all-tournament team honors. He was later named the 2022 Personality of the Year by the Portuguese Basketball Federation and represented Portugal at EuroBasket 2025, where he led the team to the round of 16 and recorded a historic 23-point, 18-rebound performance against Czechia.
Neemias Queta Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Queta was born in Lisbon to Bissau-Guinean parents Mica and Djaneuba Queta, and was raised in Vale da Amoreira. His older sister played a key role in his introduction to basketball when she brought him to a tryout at Barreirense, an experience that launched his athletic career.
Personal Life
Queta moved to the United States in 2018 to attend Utah State and has since been based in the Boston area after joining the Celtics. Known publicly by his nickname “Neemy,” he maintains an active presence on social media and is regarded as a leading figure for Portuguese basketball both at home and abroad.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025–26 season represents a defining chapter in Queta’s career, as he was named the Boston Celtics’ starting center following the departures of Kristaps Porziņģis, Al Horford, and Luke Kornet. He made his first career NBA start on 4 November 2024 and has continued to expand his role within Boston’s rotation heading into the new campaign.
On 29 November 2025, Queta matched his career-high 19 points and set a new career high with 18 rebounds, including eight offensive boards, in a narrow 119–115 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves. Adding two blocks to that performance made him the first Celtic to reach those combined statistical marks in a single game since Robert Parish in 1989, underscoring his growing two-way impact.
With a long-term contract in place and a clear role as Boston’s interior anchor, Queta enters the heart of the 2025–26 season focused on consistency, rim protection, and continued growth. His progression from late-second-round pick to NBA champion and starting center reflects the rapid development of one of European basketball’s most influential modern players.