‘He Craves Improvement’: How Queta became an NBA level player fit to represent Portugal
Neemias Queta is officially an NBA player, getting selected No. 39 in the 2021 NBA draft to the Sacramento Kings on Thursday night.
It’s a historic accomplishment for the former Utah State center. He’s the first Portuguese native in history to make the NBA. It’s a benchmark mark worth celebrating – not just because it’s happened – but because of the individual it happened to.
If you’re a Portuguese citizen or a fan of Utah State, you’d be hard-pressed to find someone better equipped than Queta to represent your country or school at the highest level basketball has to offer.
He proved that much from his three years in Logan. The self-proclaimed “gentle giant” made an unforgettable impact on Utah State basketball. Queta won three straight All-Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year Awards and helped Utah State qualify to the NCAA tournament for three straight seasons. And he did it all with a joyful exuberance that endeared himself to the community.
High-fiving grandmas on the sidelines, hugging fans after victories and blocking opposing team’s shots into the atmosphere, Queta always brought the energy on the court. Even off the court, he was consistently pleasant – always welcoming to fellow students who noticed him on campus.
“I’ve always felt that Neemias is the type of person that represents everything that’s good about basketball and life,” said senior Aggie forward Justin Bean.
“His personality is top-notch,” said David Ragland – former Aggie assistant coach and current member of the Butler coaching staff. “He’s smart, funny and easy to get along with. The type of athlete you want to have on your roster and coach daily!”
But Queta’s good nature is just the surface of what makes him such a capable leader. He’s had numerous experiences throughout his Aggie career which have helped prepare him to proudly represent himself and his nation in the NBA.
Arriving in Utah in the summer of 2018, Queta entered a new place and culture to embark on his college basketball career, but it wasn’t without help.
Upperclassman and teammate, Diogo Brito, was also from Portugal and was a crucial part of helping him adjust.
“He was a big key for me just telling what stuff we should do and what stuff we shouldn’t do, just how things work over here,” said Queta. “I just spoke in Portuguese about everything on the court and then when I came here there were some new terms that I’ve never heard of. (Brito) just made it easier for me.”
Thanks to the assistance from Brito and his own personal ability, everything seemed to go right for Queta his freshman season in Logan. Utah State won the Mountain West championship in 2019, and Queta won Mountain West Freshman of the Year. Following the season, he declared for the NBA draft.
But the summer of 2019 would prove to be difficult for the big man. He performed poorly in the NBA combine and chose to return to school. Then, on July 22, 2019, while Queta was playing for Portugal in the FIBA U20 tournament, he suffered a left knee injury. He wouldn’t return to the court until December.
USU basketball center Neemias Queta injured his left knee at a FIBA tournament in Portugal earlier today. He left the court unable to put weight on his leg and did not return to the game (left late 3rd Q). pic.twitter.com/oFM45hJP3N
— Jason Walker (@jwalker_sports) July 21, 2019
“It was a rough summer,” Queta admitted. “You have a little bug in your stomach because you just feel weird. My whole life I wanted to be out there helping my teammates and I’ve never been out for that long so it was a new experience for me.”
“It made me take basketball not for granted, it just made me enjoy it a lot more every time I’m on the court…You never know when it can be taken away from you. It can go that quick,” he said.
Queta would return on December 7, 2019, for a game against Fresno State. He stated he was “more nervous in that game” than the first game of his rookie year. He would play just ten minutes and not make a field goal. But he did go 6 of 7 from the line, a dramatic increase from shooting 56.5% the previous season.
Neemais Queta and Justin Bean (34) celebrate another Bean lay up as a timeout is called during Utah State’s game against North Carolina at the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum in Logan, UT on Nov 15, 2019. (Amber French/USUSM)
That free throw performance is just a small indication of what Queta was capable of at Utah State. Improvement. It was a constant theme for him. His sophomore season proved it. Despite being injured for six months, he found ways to work on his free throw shooting and footwork and got better at both for the 2019-20 season. He lacked the same explosiveness from his freshman year, yet was arguably even more effective offensively.
His point average went from 11.8 to 13.0 points per game, while his field goal percentage went from 61.4% to 62.4%. His free throw percentage also went from 56.5% to 67.0%.
“Every time you watch him play, he improves,” said Ragland, “He’s like a fine wine, only getting better with age.”
Along with Sam Merrill, Neemias Queta would lead the Aggies to another Mountain West Tournament Championship in 2020. After a long season spent climbing back up, Queta once again was at the top of the conference.
But things came crashing down once again.
COVID-19 forced the cancelation of the 2020 NCAA tournament, ending Utah State’s season in an abrupt fashion.
“They just shut down our season, our dream to make a run,” said Queta. “We had a really good opportunity, we had a really good squad. We could have made a deep run but it was just thrown away. It sucked.”
Once again, Queta took full advantage of the situation he was in. Instead of going back home for the summer, he stayed in Logan. There were limitations on where he could train due to the pandemic, but fully healthy, he was able to spend the off-season getting physically stronger while fine-tuning his game.
Although issues surrounding COVID-19 swirled into the fall, he entered his junior season prepared to play, which was necessary. With Merrill off to the NBA, it was Queta’s responsibility to lead the team for the 2020-21 season.
And lead the team he did. He led the team with points per game (14.9), rebounds (10.1) and blocks (3.3) – all of which were career highs.
“It’s a different feeling for sure knowing that a game plan is going to be revolving around (me),” he said. “You can’t be as casual, you can’t have the same turnovers you were having. Whenever you get the ball you gotta make sure you get buckets or whenever the team needs a bucket you’re the one to go get it so it was something different for me…I felt like I did a decent job but I still feel like I could have done a lot better.”
Virtually running the offense from the inside out, Queta developed crucial passing and IQ habits that will benefit him at the next level.
“Neemias is such a smart player,” said Ragland, “A team can run their system through him. He makes the right play or reads the majority of the time.”
With injuries and COVID-19 issues, it wasn’t the smoothest of seasons for the Aggies. They learned to “expect the unexpected” according to Queta. And it got them where they wanted to go – Back to the NCAA tournament.
Things ended with a disappointing loss to Texas Tech in the first
round of the NCAA tournament. But Queta shined in the game, filling the stat sheet with 13 rebounds, 11 points, 7 blocks and 6 assists. A remarkable performance to end his Aggie career.
Neemias Queta hugs the late Derick Earle after a victory over New Mexico on Feb. 20, 2019. Photo Courtesy of Eli Lucero, Herald Journal
Considering what Queta had to overcome in each of his three seasons – adjusting to a new culture in a foreign land, battling a left knee injury, and leading a team through a global pandemic – the two Mountain West championships and three NCAA tournament berths are incredible accomplishments.
“I’m very proud,” said Queta, “All my life I’ve been a part of winning cultures. Teams that get placed and fight for championships. So it’s something that I pride myself in and I really enjoyed doing this over here.”
All of his experiences and growth at Utah State have prepared him for the next level. He has the work ethic, ability, mental toughness and winning mentality necessary to help himself carve out a role in the NBA and help the Kings succeed.
Aggie fans and Portuguese people alike should be proud to call him their own.
Bean laid it out the best.
“Portugal loves him, not just because he’ll be the first player drafted from there, but because he’s always been a humble, loyal, hardworking ambassador for them,” he said. “He’ll definitely succeed in the NBA because he’s never satisfied with how good he is. He always craves improvement.”