Neemias Queta
Awards & Honours
11
Awards Won
5
Honours
1
Rankings
3
Covers
4
Records
Neemias Queta's career is defined by a series of historic firsts for Portuguese basketball. He was the first Portuguese player drafted into the NBA, the first to appear in an NBA game, and the first to win an NBA championship. In college, he was a three-time Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year, a feat that places him among the most decorated defenders in conference history. His 3.3 blocks per game as a junior led all of NCAA Division I. In the G League, he earned All-NBA First Team and All-Defensive Team honors in 2023. In 2025, he was named Portuguese Athlete of the Year by the Portuguese Olympic Committee, recognizing his impact on the sport in his home country.
Awards
Honours & Distinctions
First Portuguese player drafted in the NBA
Selected 39th overall by the Sacramento Kings.
First Portuguese player to appear in an NBA game
Debuted for the Sacramento Kings on December 17, 2021.
First Portuguese player to win an NBA championship
Won with the Boston Celtics.
Honorary citizen of Barreiro
Recognized for his achievements in basketball.
Portuguese Athlete of the Year
Awarded for his contributions to Portuguese sports.
Rankings & Lists
Top 10 Portuguese Athletes Under 30
Magazine Covers
Bola na Rede
August 2024
O Sonho Português
Record
July 2024
Neemias Queta: Campeão NBA
A Bola
June 2024
Neemias Queta: Campeão NBA
Records & Feats
First Portuguese player drafted in the NBA
Selected 39th overall in 2021, Queta became the first Portuguese-born player ever drafted into the NBA.
First Portuguese player to appear in an NBA game
Made his debut for the Sacramento Kings on December 17, 2021.
First Portuguese player to win an NBA championship
Won the 2024 NBA Finals with the Boston Celtics.
Led NCAA Division I in blocks per game (2020-21)
Averaged 3.3 blocks per game as a junior at Utah State.