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.
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No. 88 – Sacramento Kings | ||||||||||||||
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Position | Center | |||||||||||||
League | NBA | |||||||||||||
Personal information | ||||||||||||||
Born | (1999-07-13) 13 July 1999 (age 23) Barreiro, Portugal | |||||||||||||
Nationality | Portuguese | |||||||||||||
Listed height | 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) | |||||||||||||
Listed weight | 250 lb (113 kg) | |||||||||||||
Career information | ||||||||||||||
High school | F.C. Barreirense (2009-2017) | |||||||||||||
College | Utah State (2018–2021) | |||||||||||||
NBA draft | 2021 / Round: 2 / Pick: 39th overall | |||||||||||||
Selected by the Sacramento Kings | ||||||||||||||
Playing career | 2017–2018; 2021–present | |||||||||||||
Career history | ||||||||||||||
2017–2018 | Benfica | |||||||||||||
2021–present | Sacramento Kings | |||||||||||||
2021–present | →Stockton Kings | |||||||||||||
Career highlights and awards | ||||||||||||||
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Stats ![]() | ||||||||||||||
Stats ![]() | ||||||||||||||
Medals
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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]
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]
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]
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]
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 |
Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
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2021–22 | Sacramento | 14 | 0 | 8.6 | .447 | — | .647 | 2.2 | .4 | .1 | .6 | 3.2 |
Career | 14 | 0 | 8.6 | .447 | — | .647 | 2.2 | .4 | .1 | .6 | 3.2 |
Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
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2018–19 | Utah State | 35 | 35 | 27.1 | .614 | .400 | .565 | 8.9 | 1.6 | .7 | 2.4 | 11.8 |
2019–20 | Utah State | 22 | 20 | 26.7 | .624 | 1.000 | .670 | 7.8 | 1.9 | .4 | 1.7 | 13.0 |
2020–21 | Utah State | 29 | 29 | 30.0 | .559 | .000 | .707 | 10.1 | 2.7 | 1.1 | 3.3 | 14.9 |
Career | 86 | 84 | 28.0 | .594 | .375 | .646 | 9.0 | 2.0 | .7 | 2.5 | 13.2 |
Sacramento Kings roster | |
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Stockton Kings current roster | |
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