Neemias Queta’s $2.3M Contract Fully Guaranteed as Celtics Bet on Portuguese Center for Starting Role

Key facts

• Queta's $2.3 million contract for the 2025-26 season became fully guaranteed on Tuesday, per Spotrac's Keith Smith.
• Queta averaged 10.2 points, 8.4 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 1.3 blocks and 0.8 steals in 25.3 minutes per game across 76 outings (75 starts) in the 2024-25 regular season.
• In Game 7 of the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs, Queta posted 17 points (7-8 FG, 3-3 FT), 12 rebounds and one assist over 33 minutes in a 109-100 loss to the 76ers.
• Joel Embiid outplayed Queta over the final four games of the series, averaging 28.0 points and 9.0 rebounds.
• Queta was a second-round pick by the Sacramento Kings and is originally from Portugal; this will be his fifth NBA season.
• Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla told The Boston Globe: 'We’re going to be hard on Neemi and I’m really looking forward to coaching him throughout the year.'
• Queta is 7 feet tall and 26 years old.

A Guaranteed Contract and a Starting Job

Neemias Queta’s $2.3 million salary for the 2025-26 season became fully guaranteed on Tuesday.’s Keith Smith. The move, while expected, locks in the Portuguese center as the Boston Celtics’ primary option at the five after the departures of Al Horford and Kristaps Porzingis. Queta, a 26-year-old second-round pick from the 2021 draft, now enters his fifth NBA season with a clear path to a starting role. The Celtics, who lost to the 76ers in the first round of the 2025 playoffs, are counting on him to anchor a frontcourt that has been reshaped over the summer.

Coach Mazzulla’s Challenge: From Backup to Every-Night Performer

Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla has set a high bar for Queta, telling The Boston Globe: “We’re going to be hard on Neemi and I’m really looking forward to coaching him throughout the year. But as I told him, this is what you worked your whole life for, a chance to start for the Celtics, and you see this with players when they step into different phases of their career. It’s easy to be the rookie, kind of easy to be the fourth-string big, and then it’s kind of easy to be the backup. And now you have to develop a mindset to deliver every night, and I think he has that.” The challenge reflects Queta’s rapid ascent: after spending his first three seasons as a fringe player with the Kings and Celtics, he broke out in 2024-25 as a reliable starter. Mazzulla’s words signal that the organization expects more than just competence — they need consistency.

Breakout Regular Season and Playoff Reality Check

Queta’s regular-season numbers were a career high across the board: 10.2 points, 8.4 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 1.3 blocks and 0.8 steals in 25.3 minutes per game over 76 games, 75 of which he started. He shot 65% from the floor, a mark that underscored his efficiency as a roll man and finisher. But the playoffs exposed the gap between Queta and elite competition. In Game 7 of the first round against the 76ers, he logged 17 points on 7-of-8 shooting and 12 rebounds in 33 minutes, but Boston lost 109-100. Over the final four games of the series, Philadelphia’s Joel Embiid averaged 28.0 points and 9.0 rebounds, outplaying Queta decisively. The series loss raised questions about whether Queta can hold his own against top-tier centers in high-stakes moments.

The Celtics’ Frontcourt Calculus

Boston’s frontcourt decisions are far from settled. Queta is the leading option at center, but the organization could pivot if it finds a better fit via trade or free agency. The departures of Horford and Porzingis — both veteran starters — leave a void that Queta must fill, but the Celtics’ front office has shown a willingness to make aggressive moves. For now, Queta’s guaranteed contract gives him security, but not a permanent hold on the starting job. His performance in the early part of the season will determine whether Boston views him as a long-term solution or a stopgap.

A Fifth Season with Everything to Prove

Queta’s journey from a second-round pick out of Portugal to a starting center for a storied franchise is remarkable, but the NBA is unforgiving. At 7 feet and 26 years old, he is entering his physical prime, yet he has only one full season of significant playing time under his belt. The Celtics, even without Jayson Tatum this season, need Queta to play at his best to remain competitive. If he can replicate his regular-season efficiency while improving his defense against star big men, Boston’s gamble will pay off. If not, the team may look elsewhere.

Outlook: Pressure and Opportunity

Queta’s contract guarantee removes one source of uncertainty, but the stakes are higher than ever. He is no longer a developmental project; he is a starter on a team with championship aspirations. Mazzulla’s public challenge underscores the urgency. The coming months will reveal whether Queta can make the leap from a solid regular-season contributor to a playoff-caliber center. For a player who has already defied expectations, the next step is the hardest.

The bottom line

• Neemias Queta’s $2.3 million contract for 2025-26 became fully guaranteed on Tuesday, securing his roster spot.
• Queta is expected to start at center for the Celtics after Al Horford and Kristaps Porzingis left the team.
• He averaged career highs of 10.2 points and 8.4 rebounds per game in the 2024-25 regular season.
• In the playoffs, he was outplayed by Joel Embiid, who averaged 28.0 points over the final four games of the series.
• Coach Joe Mazzulla has challenged Queta to develop a consistent every-night mindset.
• The Celtics’ frontcourt plans remain fluid, and Queta’s performance will determine his long-term role.