Neemias Queta scores 12 points at the end of the Celtics’ preparation for the NBA

Last Friday, Portuguese Neemias Queta scored 12 points in the 127-99 victory of the Boston Celtics at the home of the Charlotte Hornets, in the final preparatory game for the North American Basketball League (NBA).

The Portuguese center, who moved to the Celtics this year, finished the game with 12 points (six of six from field goals) and seven rebounds (five offensive) in 13:08 minutes, his best performance of the preseason.

Queta and Lamar Stevens (12 points) were the only players off the bench to score ten points, with Jaylen Brown being the Boston team’s top scorer with 20 points.

“I try to be as consistent as possible around the basket. I think I can compete with the best [na ‘luta das tabelas’]. This year we want to be very strong on defense.”Neemias Queta said after the meeting.

Queta was used in three of the Celtics’ five preseason games and finished the preseason with averages of 9.7 points and 4.7 rebounds in 11.5 minutes per game.

“I want to be proactive and help the team win as many games as possible”commented on the post, noting that all the players are “very excited to be part of the Boston Celtics,” the team with the most titles won in the NBA, along with the Los Angeles Lakers, both with 17.

After two seasons with the Sacramento Kings, Neemias Queta was released, eventually signing a two-way contract with the Boston Celtics, which allowed him to play for the main team and secondary team, the Maine Celtics, who compete in the G League. .

The 24-year-old forward was selected 39th overall by the Sacramento Kings in the 2021 NBA draft, becoming the first Portuguese player to play in the league.

In his first two seasons in the NBA, Neemias Queta appeared in 20 games for the Sacramento team. The post was most used by the Stockton Kings, for whom he played 43 games last season, averaging 17.7 points, 8.7 rebounds and 1.9 shot tackles per game.

His strong performances in the G-League earned the Portuguese player second place in the Most Valuable Player (MVP) voting in the regular season, behind baseman Carlik Jones.