Joe Mazzulla
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Head coach Joe Mazzulla of the Boston Celtics.
The Boston Celtics find themselves in the midst of their most transformative offseason in recent memory. With the departures of Kristaps Porzingis, Luke Kornet and Al Horford, one of the biggest storylines has been who will take over the starting center position.
Enter Neemias Queta — whose historic EuroBasket debut is sending a clear message to Joe Mazzulla and the front office.
Queta Makes History for Portugal
Queta’s debut wasn’t just statistically impressive — it was dominant. He scored 23 points, grabbed 18 rebounds, blocked 4 shots and added 2 steals in Portugal’s 62–50 victory over the Czech Republic.
He shot an efficient 11-of-15 from the field, posted the 7th best rebounding performance in EuroBasket history, and became the first player with at least 20 points and 15 rebounds in his EuroBasket debut since 1995. The performance also powered Portugal to their first EuroBasket win since 2007.
Queta’s Three-Point Breakthrough Changes Everything for Celtics
On Portugal’s opening possession, Queta confidently stepped beyond the arc and drilled a three-pointer to get his team on the board. The moment was surprising — and it could have big implications for the Celtics’ season outlook.
With Jayson Tatum sidelined for the 2025–26 season, Boston will rely heavily on spacing and ball movement. Even occasional three-point shooting from Queta could open driving lanes for Jaylen Brown, Derrick White, and Payton Pritchard.
Neemias Queta, with 0 career NBA 3-pointers, knocking down a triple to open EuroBasket (and already has the celebration down). pic.twitter.com/D6K4PTwpL4
— Chris Forsberg (@ChrisForsberg_) August 27, 2025
Is Queta Ready for the Celtics’ Starting Role?
The timing couldn’t be better. Queta has been preparing for expanded responsibilities, recently telling Bobby Manning of CLNS Media:
“I also want to raise up my free-throw attempts, just be aggressive and get my percentage up on the free-throw line too.”
When asked about his relationship with Mazzulla, Queta’s confidence was clear:
“He believes in me heavily… I think the message from him for me this year is to go out there and play freely… help us win games.” — via Bobby Manning on X.
At 26, the Portuguese center averaged 5.0 points and 3.8 rebounds in limited minutes last season. Now, he’s positioned to become Boston’s starting center — a massive opportunity his EuroBasket performance suggests he’s ready to seize.
The Celtics have a track record of finding value in unexpected places. Getting meaningful production from Queta would help answer their biggest question mark while maintaining the financial flexibility they’ve prioritized this offseason.
What Comes Next?
Queta faces much tougher tests ahead. Portugal’s next opponent? Serbia and three-time MVP Nikola Jokic on Friday. Then matchups against Turkey’s Alperen Sengun and Latvia’s Kristaps Porzingis. That gauntlet will reveal whether his debut was a one-off performance or the start of something sustainable.
For a Celtics franchise banking on internal development during a transitional season, Queta’s emergence provides an unexpected answer in the frontcourt. His EuroBasket debut might just be the beginning of a career-defining campaign.