Each year, the NBA recognizes a player who took a significant leap from one season to another with the Most Improved Player Award. As he continues to impress with each passing game, Boston Celtics center Neemias Queta has unofficially been nominated.
“I don’t know if he’s up for the award, but he should be,” Brown suggested postgame.
Queta, who spent the last two seasons as Boston’s fourth-string center, has taken on the starting role with grace. He’s averaging career-highs across the board and has become a legitimately game-changing player for the Cs.
“Yeah, I think about it all the time,” Queta revealed in the locker room. “I feel like I made a good case for it, but like we said, there's stuff that we can't control. At the end of the day, I'm just helping the team win, and that's my main goal. Obviously, that's secondary, the Most Improved, but just glad I'm helping my teammates get to the spot we're at right now. And whether I want it or I don't want it, it's not gonna change, change my perspective and the approach I take every night.”
Sunday’s performance was just another example. Queta gave Boston a serious lift in the first half against the Raptors with 16 points and five rebounds before the break. He rounded out the afternoon with 18 points, seven rebounds, four assists, and three blocks.
Neemias Queta today pic.twitter.com/a5xkwqkcl9
— Sam LaFrance (@SamLaFranceNBA) April 5, 2026
Queta's delivered on a consistent basis for Boston
It was just one in a line of many strong performances from the former Utah State standout as of late. Over his last nine appearances, Queta is averaging 12.4 points, 8.9 rebounds, and 1.6 blocks per game -- eclipsing his set of career-highs.
“It’s been a privilege to watch from the start of the season to where he’s at now,” Brown praised. “It’s like night and day almost.”
Brown’s right. Neemi consistently impacts winning for Boston. He’s improved significantly as an offensive weapon, growing in his ability to read coverages out of the pick-and-roll. The threat he adds there makes defenses choose to either collapse on his roll and leave shooters open, or stick to the shooter and give Queta a good look at the rim.
Defensively, he consistently deters opposing players from going to the basket with his rim-protecting ability.
This season, Queta’s taken a great leap with his discipline too. He’s in much better defensive position and commits far fewer fouls because of it.
Of course, for every award, there’s a wide field of candidates. According to multiple sportsbooks, Atlanta Hawks guards Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Jalen Johnson, Detroit Pistons center Jalen Duren, and Milwaukee Bucks guard Ryan Rollins are the betting favorites of now, with Alexander-Walker leading the pack and Duren close behind.
Despite the stability Queta has given the Celtics after years glued to the end of the bench, the books just don’t buy him as a real candidate. According to him, achieving the recognition has been a goal of his that predates training camp.
Queta explained that he told his agent last summer that he hoped to make a push for most improved. Even so, he emphasized that helping the Cs win remains his top priority.