Boston Celtics big man Neemias Queta is the pride of Portugal, but centers his play in NBA

Yahoo Sports10h ago2 min readOriginal source →

TL;DR

Neemias Queta, the first NBA player from Portugal, emphasizes his focus on personal enjoyment and friendships in basketball rather than feeling pressured to represent his country. He acknowledges the significance of his success for Portugal but prefers to play without the burden of being an ambassador for Portuguese basketball.

Key points

Neemias Queta is the first NBA player from Portugal.
He focuses on enjoying basketball rather than feeling pressured.
Queta values friendships and opportunities gained through basketball.

Mentioned in this story

Neemias QuetaPortuguese National TeamPortugal

Boston Celtics

Neemias Queta knows that, as the first NBA player from Portugal and a centerpiece of the Portuguese National Team, that his success means a lot to his home country. But he also does not feel the need to be the standard-bearer for the sport in his native country or some sort of ambassador of Portuguese basketball either -- and for good reason. Speaking on an episode of teammate Derrick White's "White Noise" podcast, the Lisbon native was asked if he felt any additional pressure because of his status as the first to make the NBA from Portugal. "No, because I try and be myself at the end of the day," said the Celtics center. "A lot of people may try and put that responsibility on my shoulders, but ... I never wanted to play basketball for that," he explained. "Basketball is my safe haven – this is where I really have fun. I made so many friendships through basketball, and again (it) opened so many opportunities for me that I don't see it as that."

Apr 10, 2026; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Celtics center Neemias Queta (88) brings the ball up court against the New Orleans Pelicans during the first quarter at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-Imagn Images "Obviously, when I'm around when I'm around those kids and I've got opportunities to share share knowledge and hare a bit of my experience and what (I'm) going through on the daily basis, I can give them give them those outlets and explain stuff to them." "But I think that it's a big responsibility, and putting that weight on my shoulders, I wouldn't be performing as well as I am. It's already so much stuff that you've got to deal with on a daily basis that you don't need extra burdens like that." Listen to "Havlicek Stole the Pod" on: Blue Wire: iTunes: YouTube: *This article originally appeared on Celtics Wire: *

Q&A

Who is Neemias Queta and what is his significance to Portugal?

Neemias Queta is the first NBA player from Portugal and a key player for the Portuguese National Team, symbolizing hope and pride for his home country.

What does Neemias Queta say about the pressure of being a representative for Portuguese basketball?

Queta states that he does not feel additional pressure to be a standard-bearer for Portuguese basketball, as he prefers to focus on enjoying the game and building friendships.

How does Neemias Queta view his role in sharing knowledge with young players?

Queta acknowledges the responsibility of sharing his experiences with young players but believes that taking on too much pressure could hinder his performance.