1. Neemias Esdras Barbosa Queta is a Portuguese professional basketball player for the Boston Celtics of the National Basketball Association.
29 Facts About Neemias Queta
1. 2.
Neemias Queta started playing basketball in 2009 for Barreirense and later played college basketball for the Utah State Aggies.
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Neemias Queta became the first Portuguese player ever to play in the NBA on 17 December 2021.
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Neemias Queta was born in Lisbon, Portugal to Bissau-Guinean parents Mica and Djaneuba Neemias Queta.
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Neemias Queta was raised in Vale da Amoreira, in the municipality of Moita.
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Neemias Queta began playing youth basketball at age 10 with Barreirense after following his older sister to a tryout.
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On 29 August 2018, Neemias Queta signed to play college basketball for the Utah State Aggies in the United States, as he had no other collegiate offers.
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Neemias Queta set the program single-season record with 84 blocks.
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Neemias Queta declared for the 2019 NBA draft before withdrawing and returning to college.
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Neemias Queta missed the first nine games of his sophomore season with a knee injury.
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Neemias Queta was named to the First-team All-Mountain West and Defensive Player of the Year.
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Neemias Queta was one of four finalists for the Naismith Defensive Player of the Year Award.
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Neemias Queta broke his own program blocks record, ranked third nationally in blocks per game, and left as Utah State's all-time leader in blocks.
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On 29 March, Neemias Queta declared for the 2021 NBA draft, forgoing his remaining college eligibility.
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Neemias Queta was selected in the second round of the 2021 NBA draft with the 39th pick by the Sacramento Kings, becoming the first Portuguese player to be drafted in the NBA.
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Neemias Queta was a regular presence in all the games of the Californian team, which had not won the Las Vegas tournament since 2014, the year in which they defeated the Houston Rockets.
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On 17 December 2021, Neemias Queta made his NBA debut against the Memphis Grizzlies, grabbing five rebounds and adding an assist and a block.
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On 8 August 2023, Neemias Queta signed a standard contract with Sacramento, but was waived on 12 September.
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On 19 September 2023, Neemias Queta signed a two-way contract with the Boston Celtics.
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On 26 November 2023, Neemias Queta contributed with seven points and a personal record of 10 rebounds in the NBA to the Boston Celtics' home victory over the Atlanta Hawks.
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Neemias Queta repeated the feat four days later against the Los Angeles Clippers, scoring 14 points with 10 rebounds.
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On 8 April 2024, Neemias Queta signed a standard contract with the Boston Celtics.
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On 6 July 2024, Neemias Queta signed a long-term contract with the Celtics.
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Neemias Queta became the first Portuguese player to start an NBA game.
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Neemias Queta represented Portugal at the 2017 FIBA U18 European Championship Division B in Estonia, where he averaged 10.2 points, 8.6 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks per game.
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Neemias Queta competed at the 2018 FIBA U20 European Championship Division B in Bulgaria, averaging 14.1 points, 10.3 rebounds and 2.9 blocks per game.
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At the 2019 FIBA U20 European Championship Division B in Portugal, Neemias Queta led the host nation to a gold medal.
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Neemias Queta averaged 14.3 points, 11 rebounds and two blocks per game, earning all-tournament team honors.
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Neemias Queta was chosen as the 2022 Personality of the Year for the Portuguese Basketball Federation, and for this reason his name was nominated by the FPB for the 26th Sports Gala, of the Portuguese Sports Confederation.