Neemias Queta

BIOGRAPHY

Neemias Esdras Barbosa Queta, a cornerstone in Portuguese professional basketball, has established numerous milestones in his career, from being the first Portuguese player drafted to an NBA team to becoming the first Portuguese player to participate in an NBA game. Born on 13th July 1999, Queta has a strong basketball foundation with a notable college tenure and exploration of various pro leagues before landing with the Boston Celtics in the NBA.

Queta discovered his passion for basketball at an early age, playing youth basketball for Barreirense since 2009. He was raised in Lisbon, Portugal, in Vale da Amoreira, Moita, by his Bissau-Guinean parents, Mica and Djaneuba Queta, where he followed his older sister into organized basketball.

Neemias’ talent was witnessed in the United States when he signed with the Utah State Aggies in 2018 to play college basketball, an opportunity presented despite the absence of other collegiate offers. Queta shone brightly as a freshman, recording a standout season-high of 24 points, nine rebounds, and five blocks, most notably in an 80–63 victory over Saint Mary’s. Despite enduring a knee injury that benched him for the first nine games of his sophomore season, Queta bounced back, averaging 13 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 2 blocks per game. This resilience earned him repeated recognition in the Second-team All-Mountain West and All-Defensive Team.

Queta’s star shone even brighter in his junior season, averaging 14.9 points, 10.1 rebounds, 3.3 blocks, and 2.7 assists per game, breaking his single-season record with 84 blocks. This impressive run saw him clinch the First-team All-Mountain West and Defensive Player of the Year awards and become a finalist for the Naismith Defensive Player of the Year Award. By the end of his junior season, Queta had become Utah State’s all-time leader in blocks. As a demonstration of his preparedness for professional leagues, he declared for the 2021 NBA draft, forgoing his remaining college eligibility.

Before his signing with the Aggies and subsequent move to the United States, Queta had already begun his professional journey by featuring in two professional games for the Benfica team in the Portuguese Basketball League during the 2017–2018 season.

In the 2021 NBA draft, Queta was a second-round pick, clinching the 39th pick by the Sacramento Kings and making history by becoming the first-ever Portuguese player to be drafted in the NBA. His dual signing with Sacramento and their NBA G-League affiliate, Stockton Kings, saw him move between both leagues. He marked his NBA debut on 17 December 2021 against the Memphis Grizzlies with five rebounds, an assist, and a block. Despite having to observe a mandatory quarantine due to COVID-19 protocols, Queta returned to the Kings and continued to shine.

Queta also held his ground in the G League, representing Stockton Kings with exceptional performance, notably recording 21 points and 12 rebounds in a 103–80 win over the Birmingham Squadron. His performance in the G League earned him a spot in the G League’s inaugural Next Up Game for the 2022–2023 season.

On 26 November 2023, Queta made significant contributions to the Boston Celtics’ winning game over the Atlanta Hawks by scoring seven points and recording a personal best of 10 rebounds, leading him to be awarded the Tommy Award. In the following month, Queta recorded his first double-double against the Golden State Warriors, a feat he repeated four days later against the Los Angeles Clippers.

On top of his NBA and G League success, Queta made significant strides in international tournaments representing Portugal. He played in multiple FIBA U18 and U20 European Championships and led Portugal to a gold medal at the 2019 FIBA U20 European Championship Division B in Portugal.

In summary, Neemias Queta’s progression in his career is nothing short of remarkable. His achievements continue to make a significant impact on Portuguese basketball and his determined performance ensures his position as a rising star in the basketball sphere. His tireless work ethic, coupled with his justified recognition by the Portuguese Basketball Federation as the 2022 Personality of the Year, speaks volumes about his promising future.