One might think that the Sacramento Kings coaching staff did not think much of starting Boston Celtics big man Neemias Queta given the team cut him in favor of older centers who were on their way out of the NBA. But the Kings’ decision to move on from Queta in ways that helped out the Celtics considerably does not reflect how former Sacramento assistant and current Brooklyn Nets head coach Jordi Fernandez sees the Portuguese big man.
Fernandez spoke with the press about Queta’s florescence with the Celtics this season, and the Nets coach had a ton to say about the Lisbon native, suggesting (via CLNS Media) that the “sky is the limit for him” after Boston’s 113-99 win over Brooklyn at Barclays Center Tuesday (Nov. 18) evening. “If you know him as a person and how he works and handles himself, I was very lucky to work with him in Sacramento.”
“You could tell that he started playing basketball a little older, right?” asked Fernandez. “I think he started playing soccer. Soccer, you know, a lot of us that come from countries (where) soccer is the number one sport.”
“But once he picked up basketball, you could tell that he had—all this, the skill set and the talent to be a really good defender, to be a really good teammate, to get his teammates open, all the screens, all the roles, but always his willingness to learn and be better.”
“And he cares,” said the Nets coach. “That’s why I think it made him special. It doesn’t always work right away for you are where you are, but you could tell that always took the proper steps. And he was a defensive player of the year (in college). He was on a winning team. He helped us in the NBA … then he found a place with Boston, and he’s had a tremendous impact and a team that is a winning team, and I think he’s part of it.”
Listen to “Havlicek Stole the Pod” on:
Spotify: https://tiny.ee/CdKp
iTunes: https://tiny.ee/RK47
YouTube: https://tiny.ee/cOW3