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Today marks the opening of the playground dedicated to Neemias Queta in Boston! The project began taking shape during last NBA season after an initial idea from Hoopers. It was originally expected to be completed during the most recent playoffs, but the process ultimately extended through the summer. Now, after several months spent securing the necessary permits, integrating sponsors (Delta Cafés and Sumol Compal), receiving support from the city and the Portuguese consulate, and designing and completing the project, the Celtics’ Portuguese center will be the guest of honor this afternoon (9 p.m. in Portugal) at the basketball court at King Open School in Cambridge.
The national team center was taken off the court a minute and a half into the fourth quarter, and the coach explained that there was a risk of aggravating an injury and he didn't want to take any chances. The Celtics are also monitoring the situation in Spain. At the end of the press conference following the match in which Portugal defeated Spain 89-95 in Zaragoza — a match that marked the start of Group I of the second qualifying phase for the Qatar 2027 World Cup, but which will go down in history as the first victory for the Lynx against the Spanish in official matches — Mário Gomes was asked about the extent of Neemias Queta 's injury .
"We still don't know if he has any problems or not, but we decided not to take any risks. Zero risk. Not only because we have a game on Monday [against Georgia, in Matosinhos] , but also because it's his life and, for me, as a coach, the players' health comes first. When there is a risk, we never do anything that jeopardizes the players' health to win a game," the national team coach explained. "The physiotherapist and the doctor told me there was a real risk, so we decided not to use him anymore. We also have people from the Boston Celtics staff here , who I think are helping our medical team understand what's going on. I hope it's nothing serious and we can count on him on Monday and, above all, that he can continue his career without problems, because he deserves it. He's a great guy," Gomes concluded.
Keith Smith: Neemias Queta helped lead Portugal to a big win over Spain today: 16 points, 9 rebounds, 2 steals. Aday Mara was strong for Spain with 12 points, 6 rebounds and 4 blocks. Hugo Gonzalez had a rough game with just 3 points on 1-for-4 shooting (all from three).
In June, while the NBA Finals and the Liga Betclic Finals were taking place, Neemias Queta had the opportunity to show Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla around Lisbon, Benfica and Barreiro, where Queta grew up and played. What did Mazzulla tell him about what he saw in Portugal and Portuguese basketball? “I think he liked what he saw. He said there are people who can make it there if they really want to work hard. And I think he really loved Portugal. I think the thing he liked the most was the food. It was a good time. He came alone, but he said next year he’s coming with his wife and kids. We’ll welcome them with open arms,” Queta revealed. As for his expectations for the Celtics next season, Queta expects them to “be competitive again.” “People have already started saying again that the other teams are the good ones and that we don’t have enough quality. But I think, with the group we have, the people we have in the locker room? And our coach?”
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After completing his youth basketball camp in Portugal, Queta returned to Boston to train. Was Hugo Gonzalez, his Celtics teammate and a member of the Spanish national team, there too? “He was there for one day, but I didn’t see him,” Queta replied. What will it be like facing a teammate? Will there be some extra trash talk? “It’s going to be a good matchup, a good game. Hugo is a very versatile player: he defends, shoots, knows how to pass and can dribble. He’s going to give us some problems, but I know him and I can give my teammates some tips about what he can do. But obviously there will be some trash talk, above all in good fun.”
Let's talk about the new contract with the Celtics. Four seasons for $56 million, which is €49 million. What does it mean to you beyond the money? What did this recognition express? "Yes, for me, the money wasn't the most important thing at all. The most important thing was knowing that Boston believed in me for another four years. I'll be able to continue calling Boston home for that entire time, without having to look over my shoulder. Without having to worry about the next season. What I wanted or what would happen. There's uncertainty when you're a free agent. It creates certain difficulties in terms of knowing how to manage the year, injuries and everything else, and I didn't want to be thinking about that. It was very good for me and I feel flattered to have that confidence from the front office . "
And is there any dream that this contract might allow? And can you tell me what it is that you want to offer me? Neemias Queta: "My dream is to have my own house. A dream house. To create my own space, my own world. But I think I'll be patient with it, I don't want to rush it. It's a project that will take a long time, and when it happens, hopefully it will be successful."
With the new salary coming up, would it be easier to spend $100,000 [ €88,000 ] to train for a week with Hakeem Olajuwon on post movements? Is that something you would like to do? Neemias Queta: I'm cheap. No, I don't spend $100,000 on training. Not even with Hakeem Olajuwon? Neemias Queta: Not even with Hakeem Olajuwon.
Mitchell Robinson was with the Knicks. He's now going to be your teammate and you'll be rotating with him at center. He's someone you enjoyed playing against, someone who pushed you, or someone who… Neemias Queta: "What I appreciate is not having to box out against him because it was very difficult. He's a very strong, very agile player, capable of going in and winning almost every offensive rebound. Having a player of this level, who defends so well and can cause so much trouble on the offensive boards, will be very good because we are quite similar basketball players and we can bring many similar things to the team, which is essential."
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NBA star Neemias Queta will lead Portugal’s team in the upcoming FIBA WC Qualifiers window. Portugal successfully completed the first part of the qualifiers with a record of 3-3 and is awaiting the start of the second round. In the first window, they will visit Spain on August 28 and host Georgia on August 31.
This summer, Mazzulla has taken that commitment to another level; it’s mid-July, and he has already spent time with four different players in four different parts of the world: Jordan Walsh in Texas, Baylor Scheierman in Nebraska, Hugo Gonzalez in Spain, and Neemias Queta in Portugal.
Walsh said he learned things about Mazzulla he never knew, and that the rare quality time was valuable. “Jordan and I had a great conversation, just kind of understanding how he grew up,” Mazzulla said. “But really, it’s not even about learning about that. I think guys are more comfortable in their home atmosphere. So, even the types of conversations that you’re having are more comfortable, and it might spark different questions, different conversations if you’re on their home territory. We had deeper conversations because we were in a more vulnerable situation.”
Walsh was (positively) caught off guard when Mazzulla first initiated the visit. “I was definitely surprised,” Walsh recalled with a smile. “Like, what the hell does Joe want? But it was cool. It was so cool that he was making that kind of effort to come see me.” Walsh joked he kept Mazzulla out of the trouble: “I kept him in the good part of the city, where it’s good food, good people. He didn’t get to experience the other side. Maybe one day.”
