When Mike Brown arrived in Northern California to take over as the Sacramento Kings' head coach, his roster included a second-year center named Neemias Queta. The 23-year-old finished as the runner-up for the G League MVP Award that season. However, he appeared in only five games with the parent club.
That summer, the Boston Celtics pounced when the Kings waived Queta. He is now making the most of his opportunity as their starting center. Entering Thursday's game against the Washington Wizards, the five-year veteran is averaging 9.7 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks per contest.
The Lisbon, Portugal, native utilizes his length and athleticism as one of the league's more effective rim protectors patrolling the pivot. He's also an impactful screener, doing his part to ensure quality possessions.
Beyond that, Queta's a lob threat whose vertical spacing also creates quality shots for his teammates. Defenders are forced to choose between rotating to tag him or watching him finish from above the rim.
Before Boston's 123-117 victory vs. the New York Knicks at TD Garden, the visitors' bench boss, Mike Brown, shared his thoughts on Queta's evolution since he coached him in Sacramento.
Mike Brown on Neemias Queta's development
In that win against the Celtics' geographical rival, the seven-foot center went 4/4, putting eight points on the board. He also grabbed six rebounds.
Before Brown got an up-close view of Queta's maturation, he discussed his development from the pregame podium.
“It looks like he’s found a home…He’s gonna be good for the Celtics for many years to come.”
— Bobby Krivitsky (@BobbyKrivitsky) December 2, 2025
Mike Brown, initially thrown off by the pronunciation of Neemias Queta’s first name — he just calls him Neemi — discusses the impact of Queta, who he coached with the Kings. pic.twitter.com/hq3AfSs7Tc
"He's seven-feet; he's got great feet. He's a vertical threat. Rebounds. Finishes around the hoop. I'm just so happy for him that he's able to showcase his talent and ability here in Boston. It looks like he's found a home, cause they're really trying to grow him. And it seems like he loves it here. And he can be really impactful," said Brown.
Queta's evolution is now one that he has to contend with on a division rival.
"And obviously, I'm in New York now, and he's in Boston, but I don't like playing against him because he can impact the game in a lot of different ways," expressed Brown. "He's gonna be good for the Celtics for many years to come. That's just, again, a testament to Brad [Stevens] and the staff, and the coaching staff for finding young talent out there and helping them grow."
Queta's still fighting to prove he can be Boston's starting center beyond this season. However, at a minimum, he has already proven that the franchise can feel confident about him being their No. 2 option, acting as one half of a top tandem patrolling the pivot.