{"id":707918,"date":"2026-04-11T04:48:28","date_gmt":"2026-04-11T04:48:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/707918\/"},"modified":"2026-04-11T04:48:28","modified_gmt":"2026-04-11T04:48:28","slug":"will-neemias-queta-become-first-center-in-decades-to-win-mip","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/707918\/","title":{"rendered":"Will Neemias Queta become first center in decades to win MIP?"},"content":{"rendered":"

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tBoston Celtics\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t“He should seriously be considered because of where he was and where he is now,” Joe Mazzulla said.<\/p>\n

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\n\tNeemias Queta AP Photo\/Steven Senne\t<\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\t\t\"\"\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\tCeltics clinch No. 2 seed in Eastern Conference playoffs with blowout win over Pelicans\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tJayson Tatum returns to MSG, but Knicks hold off Celtics late: 7 takeaways\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n

Sam Hauser chuckled <\/a>as he recalled what it was like seeing Neemias Queta hit his first career 3-pointer. <\/p>\n

The Celtics<\/a> were already up by 38 points late in the third quarter against the Pelicans Friday night, and Jaylen Brown drew enough attention on his drive to the basket to create enough space for good ball movement.<\/p>\n

There was a pass to Jordan Walsh in the corner, then another swing to Queta at the top of the key. Queta stepped into the shot and drilled it, much to the delight of the crowd.<\/p>\n

\u201cButtery,\u201d Hauser said after taking a beat to think about how to describe the shot. \u201cIt was buttery. It was smooth. He was pretty excited about that and we were pretty excited for him.\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s done a great job all year, gotten better and better, and better. He\u2019s really shown why he\u2019s a starting five-man in this league, on our team, and I think he should be in the running for Most Improved Player. He\u2019s come up big for us a lot this year and we need him to continue that.\u201d <\/p>\n

Queta <\/a>is averaging twice as many minutes (25.5 per game) as he did when he came to Boston two years ago. The NBA requires at least 63 games of 20 minutes or more for Most Improved candidates. Queta has played in 75 games, making 74 starts. He had never started more than six games in a single season before this year. <\/p>\n

He has 17 double-doubles, more than LeBron James, Jaylen Brown, and Russell Westbrook have this season. He recorded his 100th block of the year Friday night, which puts him 11th in the NBA. <\/p>\n

\u201cThat was cool. Those little things are important,\u201d coach Joe Mazzulla said of the blocks milestone. \u201cYou see the work that the guys put in and the responsibility and ownership of a guy taking on being the starting center for the Celtics.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSo, for him to be able to achieve that is great. Just his work and attention to detail defensively \u2013 there\u2019s a ton of pressure on the bigs in our system defensively. They have to do everything on both ends of the floor and he relishes that opportunity. I\u2019m glad he got that.\u201d <\/p>\n

It has been twenty years since a center won the NBA Most Improved Player award if you count Boris Diaw (like ESPN does), who played multiple positions over the course of his career. <\/p>\n

Jermaine O\u2019Neal, who won the award in 2002, is the most recent winner who primarily played center. <\/p>\n

Queta is among the leading candidates for the award this year, according to NBA.com.<\/p>\n

BetMGM has Atlanta\u2019s Nickiel Alexander-Walker as the favorite, followed by Detroit\u2019s Jalen Duren, Portland\u2019s Deni Avdija, and Atlanta\u2019s Jalen Johnson. <\/p>\n

The Celtics have officially clinched the No. 2 seed in the East. Their success following the offseason departures of Al Horford, Kristaps Porzingis, and Luke Kornet, has been evidence that Queta\u2019s game has come a long way. <\/p>\n

\u201cHe impacts both ends of the floor. Defensively, he covers a lot for us, with his rebounding, shot-blocking, just even contesting,\u201d Celtics center Nikola Vucevic said. \u201cHe makes guys think a little bit when they come into the paint, and then offensively he\u2019s so active. Good screen and roller on the glass, just impacts the game in so many ways and some of those things don\u2019t show up on the stat sheet but they matter a lot to us.\u201d <\/p>\n

Last week, Jaylen Brown said the growth in Queta\u2019s game from last season to this season is like \u201cnight and day.\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cI just think the connectivity is just much higher,\u201d Brown said. \u201cI think his understanding has grown, and I guess just the feel for the game. Early in the season, it just felt like when you would have a conversation (with him), or you\u2019d know it just wasn\u2019t connecting, and it just seems like everything is connecting with him. <\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s just got a good feel for the game, and he sees where he needs to be, and it\u2019s been really great for our team this year. It\u2019s been a privilege to watch the growth from the start of the season to where he\u2019s at now.\u201d<\/p>\n

There is one more regular-season left to go. Playoff basketball will return to TD Garden this spring, and the Celtics have home-court advantage in the first round. <\/p>\n

They\u2019ve relied on a new center to help them get there, and his work ethic has led to noticeable improvement. <\/p>\n

\u201cI hope he gets it. He deserves it,\u201d Mazzulla said. \u201cTo me, again, obviously as a player but more \u2013 what it means to do it for the Celtics I think goes a long way and where he\u2019s been on his journey in the NBA but also his journey with us in the organization. He should seriously be considered because of where he was and where he is now. We wouldn\u2019t be in this position without him.\u201d <\/p>\n

\t\t\"Profile\t<\/p>\n

\t\tKhari A. Thompson<\/a>Sports Reporter\t<\/p>\n

Khari Thompson covers professional sports for Boston.com. Before joining the team in 2022, Khari covered college football for The Clarion Ledger in Jackson, Miss.<\/p>\n

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