The eyes of the world are focused on the USA, the night before the decision between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump was also a relief belly basketball with a total of 15 games throughout the night depending on the time zone. In Portugal, it started at midnight, it ended after 5am and there were some surprises between the confirmation of some paradigm changes in the NBA. In the midst of all this, a figure was again in the spotlight – and once again making history. Neemias Queta was the first national player to play in the main league of North America, basically he was the first player to play for two different teams and reached the top as the first champion. However, it was that season kick-off party that got the 2024 season winner’s ring straight start something more.
Neemias, championship ring and historic night: equal Celtics record for triples in NBA debut in 4.20 minutes from Portugal
Last year, making his debut for the Boston Celtics after being released by the Sacramento Kings, which for two weeks still seemed to question his continuity in the NBA, the 25-year-old pivot age moving between the G League (Maine Celtics. ) and the main team because he had a contract two ways which allowed him to find a competitive rhythm in the championship that was prepared for the NBA calls of Joe Mazzulla. At one point, a decision had to be made: sign 100% as a Celtics player or look at other solutions. Despite the fact that very few have played since playoffs, Neemias Queta stayed and renewed. Now we understand why.
“Looser, safer and better at what he does”: Neemias needed only 14 minutes to prove himself in another victory for the Celtics
The Celtics used the Portuguese again on the trip to Atlanta to face the Hawks but, For the first time, he joined Joe Mazzulla’s starting five. Because Jaylen Brown was not injured, who came in with Kristaps Porzingis (who has not played this season yet), the coach chose a different strategy for the game, betting on Al Horford in the 4 wing/pivot position and the national player. as a pivot. This is the main fact of the night: Mazzulla had Payton Pritchard to keep the logic of the four shooters on the court, he had Luke Kornet who is one of the main rotation players but he wanted to send Nehemias from the beginning in another historic day . in the NBA. It started well, it ended even better.
Our giant made history in the NBA again ????????
Neemias Queta started for the first time in the NBA, in the victory of the Celtics against the Hawks, 123 to 93 ????#sporttvportugal #NBanasporttv #NBA #NehemiahQueta #DifferentialHere #BetclicNBA pic.twitter.com/LgrpPhgQus
— sport tv (@sporttvportugal) November 5, 2024
NEEMIAH QUETA pic.twitter.com/6qV01yDYQI
— Celtics on NBC Sports Boston (@NBSCceltics) November 5, 2024
Neemias Queta doing what he does best… dunking pic.twitter.com/JnPlsCfRlu
— Danielle Hobeika (@DanielleHobeika) November 5, 2024
The number 88 had the longest usage time in the 2024/25 season, with a total of 23 minutes (in other words, he played almost half of the game), he scored ten points, got seven rebounds, he scored a dunk and one alley-oopmade a block shot and also managed to steal the ball. Another night to remember came in another statistic that North Americans are very interested in and shows how he was able to help the team: the Portuguese, alongside Derrick White, the one with the largest positive difference between points scored and conceded by the team when he was on the field (+31). Of course, the Celtics returned to “walking” against the Hawks, with a clear victory of 30 points (123 to 93).
Nehemiah Queta tonight:
10 Points
7 Resurrection
1 Steal/Block
4-7 FG
+31He was the first Portuguese player to start in an NBA game. pic.twitter.com/1QKudIcjUG
— CelticsMuse (@CelticsMuse) November 5, 2024
After all, Neemias was the team’s fifth leading scorer, behind Jayson Tatum (28), White (21), Pritchard (18) and Jrue Holiday (16). In collective terms, the Celtics held the second place in the Eastern Conference with seven wins and one loss (only behind the Cleveland Cavaliers) and occupy the third place in the NBA (only the Oklahoma City Thunder, from the West had a win , too). On a more individual level, the Portuguese have taken part in seven of the Boston team’s eight meetings in 2024/25 and take Averaged 5.7 points and 4.6 rebounds in nearly 14 minutes, values above last season.
Joe Mazzulla on Neemias Queta:
“He works really hard. He’s worried. He wants to be educated, and I’m grateful that he allows me to coach him. He’s starting to understand how good he can really be.”
Queta finished with 10 points, 7 rebounds, 1 steal, and 1 block tonight.
(????: @NBCSBoston) pic.twitter.com/96Xbopk2c9
— Bobby Krivitsky (@BobbyKrivitsky) November 5, 2024
“He grew a lot as a player and You are starting to realize how good you can be. You set your bar very high. You did great things for us tonight. He has a lot of faith because he is a player who works hard, who cares about reaching as high as possible, who wants to be trained to evolve and I feel grateful that he gives me this opportunity to do that do. We were able to see what he can be when he is at his best and he will help us a lot during the season”, Joe Mazzulla showed at the end of another meeting in the history of Neemias Queta in the NBA. A story that is getting further from stopping…
Al Horford on Neemias Queta: “He’s got good energy. He’s continuing to learn … I’m just trying to help him … give him some perspective … but it’s been fun to be on the floor. At Charlotte, he put that back with the one-handed dunk … that was great.” pic.twitter.com/gTPmoauVmV
— Bobby Manning (@RealBobManning) November 4, 2024
The game better and his role within our system. His performance tonight showed that he’s ready to contribute in a significant way.”
This recognition from Coach Mazzulla highlights the growth and development that Neemias Queta has undergone since his time back in the G League. His resilience and dedication to improving his game have clearly paid off, allowing him to secure a starting role in such a competitive team as the Celtics.
The Celtics’ strong start to the season, currently standing at 7-1, can also be attributed to their collective performance, with Queta making solid contributions whenever called upon. His ability to score efficiently, block shots, and rebound effectively adds depth to the team’s roster. Fans and analysts alike are now paying close attention to how Queta will continue to evolve in the NBA landscape, particularly in the Eastern Conference where every game is crucial for playoff positioning.
Beyond individual accolades, Queta’s achievement as the first Portuguese player to start an NBA game is a significant milestone, not only for his career but also for basketball in Portugal. It represents a growing recognition of talent emerging from European leagues and may inspire young players in Portugal to pursue their dreams in basketball.
As the season progresses, it will be exciting to see how Neemias Queta can further solidify his position within the Celtics and contribute to their goal of competing for an NBA championship. The NBA is a stage where momentum can shift quickly, and with Queta’s recent performances, the Celtics may have found a valuable asset in their quest for success.
