Will Neemias Queta’s role with C’s expand after a big night in Indy? originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston
Just before the start of the 2024-25 season, everything finally started to hit Neemias Queta.
The previous 400 days were an absolute whirlwind that saw his basketball journey rise from the lowest of lows to the highest of highs. A season that began with him being cut before training camp ended with him hoisting the Larry O’Brien Trophy.
“It was kind of surreal how quickly everything went through and came,” Queta said. “Just about a year ago, I wasn’t sure where I’d be. And then [signing a two-way deal with] Boston, becoming a convert [to a standard contract]winning a championship. It was a very eventful year. So I just want to get on with it.”
A second-round pick (39th overall) by the Kings in 2021, Queta was waived by Sacramento on September 12, 2023, leaving his NBA future uncertain. The Celtics joined with an open two-way slot add the 7-foot big man.
An early season injury to Luke Kornet, along with the need to step up both Kristaps Porzingis and Al Horford, helped Queta stick around the parent club at the start of last season. In mid-December, with Kornet sidelined for an eight-game stretch, Queta played a high-profile role that basically got him moving while being rewarded with height to the parent list later in the season.
this summer, Queta blacked out a partially guaranteed three-year extension with the Celtics who offer the kind of security that certainly did not exist when Sacramento showed him the door. And now he wants to prove that there is even more than what we have seen from Queta so far in Boston.
“I want to see a lot of growth in myself,” Queta said. “I want to be able to go in there and just impact the game. Just being as versatile as I can be. Because I feel like that’s one of the things that can keep you on the court longer.”
Queta played just 333 total minutes in 28 appearances (11.9 minutes per game) with Boston last season. He’s been a ball of energy in his floor time, and his per-36-minute stat line — 16.6 points, 13.2 rebounds, 2.3 blocks — shows his impact despite limited time. Boston’s offensive rating was a robust 128.7 with a plus-20.4 net rating in Queta’s minutes.
On Wednesday night, with the Celtics stumbling through an uninspired effort at Indiana, coach Joe Mazzulla sent Queta out looking for a jolt of energy in the fourth quarter. And, boy, did he get one.
Queta helped burn a furious 24-point comeback before Boston fell in overtime. He was plus-18 for 13 minutes and 39 seconds of floor time while playing much of the final 14 minutes. Queta’s fingerprints were all over Boston’s comeback, based mostly on just playing hard. He finished with two points, nine rebounds, and a block.
“I thought Neemi did a great job on both ends of the floor,” Mazzulla said. “His performance, his physicality gave us a spark. It was a great thing from him and I appreciate that.”
The question now is whether Queta’s strong exit could open the door to more time alongside Boston’s core players. With Porzingis sidelined until at least December and the Celtics having to step up Horford — including a planned rest with a back-to-back in Charlotte this weekend — there will be opportunities for Queta to show how much he can thrive alongside those veteran players.
Early returns are encouraging. Queta has a plus-19.3 net rating in 33 minutes over four appearances. The defensive rating of the equipment falls to 87.5 during his floor time. Boston’s rebounding rate is a team-best 53.2 percent in Queta’s minutes.
There’s still room for growth, especially to make sure he’s in the right spots on the offensive end. But his energy, activity and physicality are undeniable. The next month of play should give Queta a real chance to show their progress.
