Neemias Queta makes history in the NBA as first Portuguese player to win NBA championship
Neemias Queta‘s trailblazing career reached a new peak on Monday night, having become the first Portuguese player to win an NBA championship.
After having made history in 2021 as the first Portuguese basketball player drafted into the NBA, the 24-year-old saw a new accolade added to his resumé after the Boston Celtics defeated the Dallas Mavericks 4-1 in the NBA Finals.
The 2.13m-tall player, born in Barreiro near Lisbon, played five minutes in Game 4 of the Finals, having scored two points in five minutes. His playing time was greatly limited in the Playoffs by the number of talented players in his position (center), such as Al Horford and Kristaps Porzingis.
Queta nonetheless played in 28 matches during the regular season, averaging 5.5 points, 4.4 rebounds and 0.8 blocks in 11.9 minutes per game.
Speaking to ESPN after the Celtics’ 106-88 win over the Mavericks, Queta spoke of the importance of representing his country in the world’s biggest basketball league.
“It is very important for me to carry the name and flag of Portugal. Being here on this stage and being one of the pioneers of the sport in our country… It is something I do not take lightly. It is a very enriching experience for me,” said Queta.
