Neemias Queta just wrapped up his summer FIBA qualifiers, and if you weren’t watching, you missed him proving exactly why the Celtics gave him that fat new contract. Coming off his best NBA season yet, Queta signed a massive 4-year, $56 million extension with Boston this summer. But instead of chilling, he was out there dominating with Portugal’s national team, showing everyone that money was well spent.
Ankle Scare Can’t Stop Queta’s FIBA Rampage
Queta’s FIBA run wasn’t just smooth sailing, though. In a 95-89 win against Spain, where he was actually facing off against Celtics teammate Hugo Gonzalez, Queta put up 16 points on 5-of-10 shooting and grabbed 9 rebounds in just 24 minutes. That’s a solid performance! But then, the scare: he left the game early after spraining his ankle. You know how it is, your heart sinks when you see that kind of thing, especially with the NBA season just a few months away. Meanwhile, Gonzalez struggled for Spain, finishing with 3 points, 3 rebounds, and a team-worst -23 in his 23 minutes on the floor.
Bounce Back for the Big Man, Other Celtics Teammates Struggle
But if you thought an ankle sprain would slow him down, you don’t know Queta. Just three days later, he delivered an even more dominant performance. Portugal lost 98-90 to Georgia, but Queta was an absolute monster, putting up 20 points on an incredible 8-of-10 shooting. He also added 11 rebounds, 3 assists, 4 blocks, and 1 steal in 30 minutes. Four blocks! That’s the kind of all-around production that gets you hyped for the NBA season. Portugal finished their Group Play games this summer with a 4-4 record.
While Queta was shining, Gonzalez had another tough outing in Spain’s 108-106 loss to Greece, tallying 3 points, 3 rebounds, and 3 turnovers, with Spain being outscored by 14 points in his 11 minutes. Spain ended up 5-3 in Group Play. Luka Garza, playing for Bosnia, had a more productive summer. He had 14 points and 7 rebounds in a loss to Lithuania, then chipped in 10 points and 7 rebounds off the bench in a win against Italy. Bosnia finished their Group Play with a 3-5 record.
Queta’s summer qualifying action is over now, and he’ll be back in Boston soon, with Celtics training camp just a few months away. All this FIBA action determines who makes it to the 2027 FIBA World Cup, happening in Qatar from August 27 to September 12th. Qualifying games will continue in November, but for Queta, it’s all about getting ready to bring that fire to the NBA court.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Celtics Blog.
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