Celtics' Neemias Queta drops truth bomb on hard-hitting Mitchell Robinson partnership

Neemias Queta is poised to remain the Celtics' starting center entering next season. When he subs out, he can now tag in Mitchell Robinson. It's a potent pairing that gives Boston a formidable 1-2 punch at the pivot.

Speaking with Miguel Candeias of A BOLA, Queta shared his excitement about no longer having to battle the former New York Knicks center -- except for in practice -- and what they can provide as teammates.

"What I'm thankful for is not having to box out him because it was very difficult," said the Lisbon, Portugal, native. "He is a very strong player, very agile, capable of going and winning almost all offensive rebounds. Having a player of this level, who defends so well and manages to cause so much furor in the offensive table, will be very good because we are very similar basketball players and we can bring many similar things to the team, which is essential."

Why the Queta-Robinson pairing fits the Celtics' identity perfectly

Possessions are more valued than ever in today's NBA. Boston's ability to generate second-chance opportunities was among its most valuable offensive weapons in the 2025-26 campaign.

Joe Mazzulla's team relentlessly attacked the glass. They secured the seventh-most offensive rebounds in the regular season, averaging 12.5 per game. They ranked third in that category in the playoffs, snagging 12.1 per contest.

Between that and knocking down the third-most 3s, with a top-eight conversion rate, it was an essential formula for accumulating 56 wins and finishing second in the East.

In Queta and Robinson, they can keep an elite offensive rebounder on the floor throughout matchups. It's also a strength of Luka Garza's. It creates an advantage that works hand in hand with the Celtics' affinity to fire from beyond the arc. It swings the math firmly in their favor and nets them a crucial edge.

Furthermore, all three of Boston's centers are effective screeners.

Garza's ability stems from an incredible sense of timing, knowing how long to hold his ground and when to slip or pop out behind the three-point line. The other two are more physical. Robinson, in particular, is a road grader. He will repeatedly pave the way to clean looks and paths to the paint for the team's primary ball-handlers. 

As athletic seven-footers, the latter two are also ideal lob threats when rolling to the rim or camped in the dunker spot.

Between that and their ability to manufacture second-chance opportunities, defenses will be in a bind when deciding how best to defend the Celtics in the pick-and-roll.

If they switch and a smaller defender ends up on Queta or Robinson, they're begging to get punished on the offensive glass. If they don't, they risk conceding a clean look to the likes of Jayson Tatum, Derrick White, Payton Pritchard, and Paul George. Or it could give them an angle to get downhill. And if they hedge, it could still lead to a numbers advantage and a lob or a kick-out for an open 3. It's an uneviable position that begins with the quality of screens Queta and Robinson consistently set.

Neemias Queta and Mitchell Robinson will elevate each other

Speaking about his new tag team partner at Summer League, Queta conveyed the following about his division foe turned teammate.

"A lot of boxing out at practice. We're going to both crash a lot. We're going to teach each other a little bit of what we do best," said Queta. "I've heard he's a really positive guy and a really fun guy to be around, and I can't wait."

Like Queta, C's fans will love what Robinson brings to the table. That extends beyond his most well-known traits. Much of his game overlaps with Boston's incumbent starting center. That figures to make this partnership a textbook example of iron sharpening iron.

It's a pairing that figures to elevate each other and give the Celtics a needed boost in an Eastern Conference that is set to become more difficult to navigate than it was last season.

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