Over the course of the 2024-25 NBA season, Neemias Queta did play that much for the Boston Celtics, limited to about 14 minutes per game over a total of 62 games played. That might seem like a lot to some fans of the team, but that feeling may stem from the fact that when the Portuguese big man was on the court, his responsibilities were much less than they are now as the team’s third center behind Kristaps Porzingis and Luke Kornet.
Now, he is tasked with a starting role with the Celtics, with his minutes and production nearly doubling this season. And the Lisbon native has shown he can hold his own on most nights serving as Boston’s starting center, even considering all of the different responsibilities such a role brings. Asked about his statistical impact as a player following Boston’s 123-110 loss to the Orlando Magic on Friday (Nov. 7), Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla downplayed the import of stats while also praising Queta’s growth with Boston.
“You take a look at him with a grain of salt, like the stats,” said Mazzulla via CLNS Media. “But at the end of the day, it’s more about the work that he’s put in and how he’s gotten better, not only from the time that he’s been here in his career.”
“Also, I think he’s gotten better from training camp to preseason to where we’re at right now,” continued the Celtics coach, “And we are a better team when he’s on the floor.”
“And he understands that responsibility, but also the execution of that. So he’s a guy that just keeps getting better and better. So it’s nice to see that part of it, because it’s been for us. He’s got to continue to get better.”
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