The Boston Celtics are looking toward Neemias Queta to possibly be their starting center next season. With Kristaps Porzingis in Atlanta and Luke Kornet in San Antonio, they have limited options at that spot.<\/p>\n
It will either be Queta or Luka Garza as the starting centers next season. Regardless, both of them are going to see a heavy amount of playing time in the 2025-26 season.<\/p>\n
Queta has already made a big impact on the basketball community overseas. In fact, he is getting credit for revamping the game of basketball in his home country.<\/p>\n
More news: Jayson Tatum\u2019s Potential Return Comes With Hurdles, Says Former Celtics Champion<\/a><\/p>\n Queta is getting some credit <\/a>for the increased popularity of the game of basketball in Portugal, per Bobby Manning of CLNS Media.<\/p>\n Full story: https:\/\/t.co\/hIQvRVVJ6X<\/a><\/p>\n “To hear his story and how basketball came to him, it was like wow, imagine if his sister didn\u2019t bring him to the gym that day?” <\/p>\n “We probably wouldn\u2019t have a Neemias Queta.\u201d<\/p>\n \u2014 Bobby Manning (@RealBobManning) August 18, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cI think he is responsible for a revamp of Portuguese basketball,\u201d Andre Costa, founder of the Portuguese company Hoopers, told Manning. \u201cHe\u2019s making people believe in basketball again, because we never had a Portuguese basketball player in the NBA. He\u2019s the first one. Portugal got back to the European championship, where he\u2019s going to play and we see all these kids believing that they can be there, that they can be part of that history. So he\u2019s transforming the whole thing in Portugal \u2026 we see more people on the streets playing, we see more people watching basketball, we see more people coming to gyms like this one.\u201d<\/p>\n Queta hasn’t gotten consistent minutes with the Celtics quite yet, but that is going to change next season. That will give him a chance to have even more influence over the Portuguese game.<\/p>\n The Celtics believe that he is good enough to earn the increased minutes he is going to get. He is a good shot blocker and rebounder, but he needs to improve his 3-point shooting.<\/p>\n More news: Celtics Legend Reveals Why Boston Won\u2019t Take Step Back This Season<\/a><\/p>\n Queta is going to have to show that he deserves to be on the court in crunch time, something that Joe Mazzulla has not decided yet. He has to figure out which of the two centers is going to be the better one to close with.<\/p>\n Before training camp even starts, Queta has the upper hand. He’s a much better defender than Garza is, but he has to develop a deep shot. Mazzulla’s offensive game plan depends on that.<\/p>\n This past season, Queta averaged five points, 3.8 rebounds, and 0.7 assists per game.<\/p>\n For more news and notes on the Boston Celtics, visit Boston Celtics on SI.<\/a><\/p>\n