What once looked like a potential concern at center for the Celtics has turned into a strength, as Neemias Queta has answered any questions about his ability to handle the role, Adam Himmelsbach of The Boston Globe writes in a subscriber-only story.
He continued his standout season on Friday, recording 19 points, 10 rebounds, and a plus-33 rating in a win over Milwaukee.
“It’s unbelievable,” Jayson Tatum said. “I couldn’t be more proud and happy for Neemy. The way he’s seeing the game, the leap he’s made as a screener, as a passer, someone we can trust when we throw him the ball in the seams, finishing, protecting the rim. He is an NBA starting big man, that’s who he is now. He’s only going to continue to get better.”
Queta had started only six games in his first four seasons before stepping into a much larger role after Al Horford and Luke Kornet left in free agency and Kristaps Porzingis was dealt in a cost-cutting move.
Through 72 games, he’s averaging 10.1 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks in 25.4 minutes per night, and his emergence has been a key factor in Boston posting one of the top records in the East.
“I think maybe at the beginning of the year we didn’t trust him as much as we do now, and now every time we throw it to him, we expect him to make the right read and right play,” Derrick White said. “He’s developed a lot of confidence, and we all have confidence in him.”
Celtics Notes: Queta, Mazzulla, Pritchard, Vucevic https://t.co/3Zw4pHkfXP pic.twitter.com/EhouMIPSzu
— Hoops Rumors (@HoopsRumors) April 5, 2026
