Following a series of offseason moves in July that significantly altered the Boston Celtics‘ frontcourt, president of basketball operations Brad Stevens openly questioned whether the remaining centers—Neemias Queta, Luka Garza, and Xavier Tillman Sr.—could effectively anchor the team. Since then, the Celtics’ leadership, including coach Joe Mazzulla, has discovered that Queta possesses the poise and consistency needed to solidify the center role.
Queta, notable as the first Portuguese-born player to take the NBA floor, was drafted in the second round by the Sacramento Kings in 2021 before signing with Boston in 2023. Despite limited playing time in his initial four NBA seasons, the departures of veteran big men Al Horford, Kristaps Porziņģis, and Luke Kornet opened the door for Queta to step into the starting lineup—and he has capitalized fully on that opportunity.
Significant Statistical Growth and Career Highs This Season
Over 57 games this season, Queta has posted impressive averages: 10.1 points, 8.4 rebounds, 0.9 steals, and 1.3 blocks per contest, shooting a robust 64.5% from the field. Each of these stats marks a career best, with his total minutes, points, rebounds, and blocked shots surpassing his entire output from the previous four seasons combined. This rise was highlighted on Sunday when Queta exploded for a career-high 27 points, 17 rebounds, and three blocks in a win against the Philadelphia 76ers, securing his reputation as a key Celtic.
He’s a force. I’ve known his game since college and playing against him in some draft workouts,
Luka Garza remarked after Boston’s victory over the Milwaukee Bucks, a game in which Queta was rested.
Just knew the presence he was, but actually being teammates with him and going against him in practice and all that, you see how much skill he does have.
—Luka Garza, Celtics Player
Leadership and Commitment Highlighted by Coaching Staff
Coach Joe Mazzulla applauded Queta’s dedication and the supportive environment cultivated by the Celtics’ player development staff. He emphasized the ongoing process of improvement that younger players like Queta embrace.
It’s a credit to his work ethic and commitment, but also to me and our player development staff and you do have to take moments to be grateful and appreciative of the work that young players put in and where they are in the environment and system that we developed. And then the other side of that is how do we get better, what are we gonna do to get to where we want to get to?
—Joe Mazzulla, Celtics Head Coach
And I think that matches the mindset that Neemi has. He’s constantly looking for small ways to get better. We’re hard on him, but he’s even harder on himself, which I think is a strength of his.
Queta’s Unique Playing Style Compared to Past Celtics Bigs
Unlike Boston’s previous frontcourt options—such as Horford and Porziņģis—who emphasized floor spacing and three-point shooting, Queta operates differently. He has yet to make a three-pointer in his career, with nearly 94% of his shots taken within 10 feet of the basket. His 7-foot, 248-pound frame, combined with athleticism and physicality, makes him a constant threat around the rim.
Whether rolling hard off screens or positioning himself in the dunker spot, Queta demands defensive attention, enabling Celtics shooters to find more open looks. His presence alters opposing defenses, which must constantly account for his scoring and rebounding ability inside the paint.
The more versatile we can be offensively, the better we’re gonna be,
said Celtics wing Baylor Scheierman.
His play style is a little different and I think that’s a good thing for us. It gives the defense a different look and allows different things for us offensively to happen.
—Baylor Scheierman, Celtics Wing
Queta has recorded 96 dunks this season, ranking 12th in the NBA and outpacing the dunk rates of predecessors like Horford, Porziņģis, and Kornet. The last Celtics big man with comparable dunk frequency was Robert Williams III, a pivotal figure on the 2022 Finals squad.
Strong Contribution Beyond Scoring
Although not the team’s primary scorer—ranking fourth among Celtics players present all season and sixth including Anfernee Simons and Nikola Vučević—Queta’s value extends well beyond points. He excels as an elite screener and offensive rebounder, generating extra possessions for a team that ranks third in second-chance points per game with 17.3.
Queta ranks fifth league-wide in screen assists per game (3.6), third in screen assist points (8.8), and is tied for eighth in offensive rebounds (3.1), reflecting his crucial role in facilitating Boston’s offense.
Our coaches do a great job, especially in the film room, of pointing out how we can improve in that way,
Garza noted on the team’s focus on effective screening.
I think at the start of the year they put a lot of onus on the bigs to make those decisions screening-wise and create a lot of action and we take a lot of pride in that, making sure we help the offense flow.
—Luka Garza, Celtics Player
Defensive Anchor and Rim Protector
Queta has also been integral to the Celtics’ unexpectedly strong defensive showing this season. Despite losing key defenders Jrue Holiday, Horford, and Porziņģis, and with Jayson Tatum sidelined for the year, Boston maintains top-tier defensive metrics. They rank fifth in defensive rating (111.6), seventh in defensive rebounding rate (71.7%), third in opponent effective field goal percentage (52.1%), and sixth in opponent field goal percentage within five feet (62.4%).
The Celtics’ defensive performance improves noticeably with Queta on the court: a 109.9 defensive rating across 1,298 minutes compared to 115 without him in 1,254 minutes.
Neemi has done a lot of good stuff for us. Protecting the rim has been at the top of that list,
Mazzulla remarked ahead of Boston’s win over the Phoenix Suns on February 24.
Queta’s 1.3 blocks per game place him tied for 15th in the league, and according to databallr, opponents shoot 61.6% at the rim when he is playing—five percentage points below league average—versus 68% when he sits, which is slightly above average. This defensive impact helps quell opponents’ inside scoring attempts effectively.
Committed Effort Extends Beyond the Whistle
Queta rarely permits opponents easy scoring opportunities, even after the play ends. Although occasionally his aggressive rim protection leads to moments of overzealousness, such as when he deflected a shot into the stands instead of securing possession against the 76ers, his competitive spirit is clear.
I do think that’s an area of growth,
Mazzulla acknowledged after the game.
Like, if you can catch it, catch it. Why give a team another possession? You just get the ball, and then we go in transition. So it’s definitely something he’s gotta better.
—Joe Mazzulla, Celtics Head Coach
While the coach pushes for refinement, Queta’s teammates appreciate his defensive presence and willingness to cover breakdowns.
Joe’s gonna be Joe, Scheierman joked, then added,
We try to protect the rim as a unit and Neemi’s a big part of that, just being at the rim when there’s breakdowns.
Queta’s role in protecting the paint is undeniably crucial, Scheierman concluded, calling it everything.
Queta’s Impact Shapes Celtics’ Strong Position in Eastern Conference
With Neemias Queta emerging as a reliable center anchoring both ends of the floor, the Celtics have avoided the pitfalls that might have followed their offseason renovations. Boston currently holds a 41-20 record, securing the second spot in the Eastern Conference with Jayson Tatum’s return anticipated soon. Leading sportsbooks, including Caesars Sportsbook, now favor the Celtics to reach the NBA Finals, listing them with +260 odds.
Queta’s balance of offensive efficiency, physicality, and defensive presence has transformed Boston’s interior, making them a more versatile and formidable team as they pursue postseason success. As the season progresses, maintaining this momentum and further integrating Tatum will be vital to sustaining the Celtics’ championship aspirations.
Please watch Queta at the end of this clip. This is killing me 😂 pic.twitter.com/QOc33AdMTl
— Pull up shoot (@NElGHT_) February 23, 2026
