Neemias Queta

Neemias Esdras Barbosa Queta (born 13 July 1999) is a Portuguese professional basketball player for the Sacramento Kings of the National Basketball Association (NBA), on a two-way contract with the Stockton Kings of the NBA G League. He started playing basketball in 2009 for F.C. Barreirense and later played college basketball for the Utah State Aggies. He was selected with the 39th overall pick in the 2021 NBA draft, being the first Portuguese player ever drafted. He became the first Portuguese citizen ever to play in the NBA on December 17, 2021.

In this Portuguese name, the first or maternal family name is Barbosa and the second or paternal family name is Queta.
Neemias Queta
No. 88 – Sacramento Kings
PositionCenter
LeagueNBA
Personal information
Born (1999-07-13) 13 July 1999
Barreiro, Portugal
NationalityPortuguese
Listed height7 ft 0 in (2.13 m)
Listed weight248 lb (112 kg)
Career information
CollegeUtah State (2018–2021)
NBA draft2021 / Round: 2 / Pick: 39th overall
Selected by the Sacramento Kings
Playing career2017–2018; 2021–present
Career history
2017–2018Benfica
2021–presentSacramento Kings
2021–present→Stockton Kings
Career highlights and awards
  • First-team All-Mountain West (2021)
  • 2× Second-team All-Mountain West (2019, 2020)
  • 2× Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year (2019, 2021)
  • 3× Mountain West All-Defensive Team (2019–2021)
  • Mountain West Freshman of the Year (2019)
Stats  at NBA.com
Stats  at Basketball-Reference.com
Medals
Men's Basketball
Representing  Portugal
FIBA U-20 European Championship Division B
2019 PortugalTeam

Early life and career

Queta was born in Barreiro, Portugal to Bissau-Guinean parents Mica and Djaneuba Queta.[1][2] He began playing youth basketball at age 10 with F.C. Barreirense after following his older sister to a tryout.[2][3] In the 2017–18 season, Queta played two professional games for Benfica in the Liga Portuguesa de Basquetebol.[4] On 31 August 2018, he parted ways with Benfica.[5] On 29 August 2018, he signed to play college basketball for the Utah State Aggies in the United States, as he had no other collegiate offers.[6][7]

College career

On 19 November 2018, Queta recorded a freshman season-high 24 points, nine rebounds, and five blocks in an 80–63 win over Saint Mary's.[8] As a freshman, he averaged 11.8 points, 8.9 rebounds and 2.4 blocks per game, earning Second Team All-Mountain West, Freshman of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year honors.[9] He set the program single-season record with 84 blocks. He declared for the 2019 NBA draft before withdrawing and returning to college.[10] Queta missed the first nine games of his sophomore season with a knee injury.[11] As a sophomore, he averaged 13 points, 7.8 rebounds and 1.7 blocks per game, repeating on the Second Team All-Mountain West and All-Defensive Team.[12]

On 17 February 2021, Queta posted a career-high 32 points and 10 rebounds in a 79–70 loss to Boise State.[13] On 12 March, he tallied 18 points, 14 rebounds and a school-record nine blocks in a 62–50 win against Colorado State at the Mountain West Tournament semifinals.[14] In his junior season, Queta averaged 14.9 points, 10.1 rebounds, 3.3 blocks and 2.7 assists per game. He was named to the First Team All-Mountain West and Defensive Player of the Year.[15] Queta was one of four finalists for the Naismith Defensive Player of the Year Award.[14] He broke his own program blocks record, ranked third nationally in blocks per game, and left as Utah State's all-time leader in blocks.[1] On 29 March, Queta declared for the 2021 NBA draft, forgoing his remaining college eligibility.[16]

Professional career

Queta was selected in the second round of the 2021 NBA draft with the 39th pick by the Sacramento Kings, becoming the first Portuguese player to be drafted in the NBA.[17] On August 8, 2021, he signed a two-way contract with Sacramento, splitting time with their G League affiliate, the Stockton Kings.[18] On December 17, 2021, Queta made his NBA debut against the Memphis Grizzlies, grabbing five rebounds and adding an assist and a block.[19] He entered COVID-19 protocols on December 21, but was cleared to return to the Kings on December 30. Queta made his return to the G League on January 5, 2022, recording 21 points and 12 rebounds for Stockton in a 103-80 win over the Birmingham Squadron.[20]

National team career

Queta represented Portugal at the 2017 FIBA U18 European Championship Division B in Estonia, where he averaged 10.2 points, 8.6 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks per game.[4] He competed at the 2018 FIBA U20 European Championship Division B in Bulgaria, averaging 14.1 points, 10.3 rebounds and 2.9 blocks per game.[7] At the 2019 FIBA U20 European Championship Division B in Portugal, Queta led the host nation to a gold medal. He averaged 14.3 points, 11 rebounds, and two blocks per game, earning all-tournament team honors. In the semifinals, he suffered a left knee injury that sidelined him from the final.[21]

Career statistics
Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field goal percentage  3P%  3-point field goal percentage  FT%  Free throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game  Bold  Career high

NBA
Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2021–22 Sacramento 1408.6.447—.6472.2.4.1.63.2
Career 1408.6.447—.6472.2.4.1.63.2

College
Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2018–19 Utah State 353527.1.614.400.5658.91.6.72.411.8
2019–20 Utah State 222026.7.6241.000.6707.81.9.41.713.0
2020–21 Utah State 292930.0.559.000.70710.12.71.13.314.9
Career 868428.0.594.375.6469.02.0.72.513.2

References
  1. "Neemias Queta". Utah State University Athletics. Retrieved 9 March 2019.
  2. "Neemias Queta, o português que pode fazer história nos Estados Unidos". Record (in Portuguese). 1 March 2019. Retrieved 9 March 2019.
  3. Kamrani, Christopher (27 December 2018). "Utah State went all the way to Portugal to find center Neemias Queta. He was worth the trip". The Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved 9 March 2019.
  4. "Neemias Queta Game Logs". RealGM. Retrieved 9 March 2019.
  5. "Neemias Queta Ruma Aos Estados Unidos" (in Portuguese). S.L. Benfica. 31 August 2018. Retrieved 9 March 2019.
  6. "Utah State Basketball Signs Neemias Queta for 2018-19 Season". Utah State University Athletics. 29 August 2018. Retrieved 9 March 2019.
  7. Woo, Jeremy (10 January 2019). "Five Mid-Major NBA Draft Prospects to Watch". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved 9 March 2019.
  8. Denniston, Wade (19 November 2018). "Utah State Cruises Into MGM Main Event Championship Game With 80-63 Victory Over Saint Mary's". Utah State University Athletics. Retrieved 9 March 2019.
  9. "Three Aggies take home four MWC awards". usustatesman.com. 12 March 2019. Retrieved 16 March 2019.
  10. Harrison, Shawn (28 May 2019). "USU's Queta declares 'I'm back'". The Herald Journal. Retrieved 26 July 2021.
  11. Edmonds, Jake (19 January 2020). "USU's Queta slowly returning to pre-injury production". KUTV. Retrieved 26 July 2021.
  12. Wood, Trent (26 April 2020). "'Together, we can climb to the top of the Mountain West once again': Utah State center Neemias Queta to return for junior season". Deseret News. Retrieved 26 July 2021.
  13. Greene, Dana (17 February 2021). "Neemias Queta scores 32, but Utah State loses to Boise State, 79-70". KTVX. Retrieved 26 July 2021.
  14. "Neemias Queta Named a Finalists for Naismith Defensive Player of the Year". Mountain West Conference. 23 March 2021. Retrieved 26 July 2021.
  15. Judd, Brandon (9 March 2021). "Utah State's Neemias Queta earns 2nd MWC Defensive Player of Year honor of his career". Deseret News. Retrieved 26 July 2021.
  16. Givony, Jonathan (28 March 2021). "Utah State center Neemias Queta entering NBA draft". ESPN. Retrieved 28 March 2021.
  17. Anderson, Jason (August 1, 2021). "First Portuguese NBA draft pick Neemias Queta will 'represent Portugal the best way I can'". The Sacramento Bee. Retrieved August 1, 2021.
  18. "Kings Sign Neemias Queta to Two-Way Contract". NBA.com. August 8, 2021. Retrieved August 14, 2021.
  19. "Memphis Grizzlies at Sacramento Kings Box Score, December 17, 2021 | Basketball-Reference.com".
  20. "Kings' Neemias Queta: Plays first game since Dec. 20". CBS Sports. January 6, 2022. Retrieved January 6, 2022.
  21. Harrison, Shawn (24 July 2019). "Utah State's Neemias Queta injures knee at FIBA U20 tournament". Idaho State Journal. Retrieved 27 July 2019.
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