By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
The latest breakthrough for Neemias Queta was starting an NBA game.
The first Portuguese player to be drafted, to play, and also win an NBA championship. He is now the first player from his country to start a game.
“I did not really get told I was starting. I figured it out by the walkthrough this morning,” he confessed after putting up ten points, seven rebounds, one steal, and one block over 23 minutes in a blowout win for the Boston Celtics against the Atlanta Hawks in State Farm Arena.
Jaylen Brown (left hip flexor strain) ruled out for Monday’s game opened a spot in the starting lineup.
“Same mindset as usual, just try and contribute to winning. Play as hard as I could, trying to make the right play all the time,” the 25-year-old center described his approach to the starting nod.
With the 39th selection of the 2021 draft, the Lisbon native was landed by the Sacramento Kings, coming out of Utah State. After two years at the capital of California, logging 20 appearances in the NBA, he signed with the C’s before the 2023-24 season and played 31 games en route to becoming an NBA champion.
“When you are good as he can be, we got to hold him to that standard every single night,” said head coach Joe Mazzulla after the meeting with the Hawks, “He could be a real asset for us towards the season. He works very hard. He cares. He wants to be coached.”
“He is starting to realize how good he really can be,” he added.
“I feel like there is a lot I can still learn or be better at eventually. I am learning new systems and new ways to guard, and just being impactful in different ways,” concurred Queta on areas for further improvement.
Creating more opportunities behind additional playing time, Latvian Kristaps Porzingis (left posterior tibialis tendon) is set to miss several more months.