Neemias Queta turning heads with play in Las Vegas Summer League

“You don’t know me bruh.” --Neemias Queta

Being mic'd up during a Summer League game can lead to some fun moments. Following his stunning 3-pointer in the waning moments of the Kings’ loss to the Orlando Magic on Saturday, Queta made the statement above to 2022 No. 1 overall pick Paolo Banchero. 

That simple five word statement will likely end up on a t-shirt somewhere in Sacramento. Those five words also capture the general feeling regarding Queta as NBA watchers are starting to view him as more than just a project big man bound for the G League or perhaps a career overseas.

When we first met Queta last summer, it was hard not to marvel at the 7-footer out of Portugal. He clearly had NBA size, but even walking into a room you could see that his body needed some work. 

A year later, Queta’s focus on improving in the weight room is obvious. He is no longer dragging around his lower half and there is a true connection between all of the moving parts.

That may have been the one thing holding Queta back. He has soft hands and a feather touch around the rim. He also has solid footwork and a strong base. But at the NBA level, a man of this size has to have elite core strength to keep up with the length, speed and athleticism of the competition. In year one, Queta needed help in this area.

The evolution of Queta’s physique will take more than just one season and there is still tremendous room for growth. It is different when you are playing basketball for a living versus being a student athlete at the college level. The focus on nutrition, weight training and body maintenance is taken to a new level that can only benefit a player like Queta. 

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Through his first three games at the California Classic, Queta was solid, but he looked like he was thinking too much. Maybe it was him adjusting to teammates or new terminology under the Kings’ new coaching staff. It’s also possible he just needed a few games to play himself into a rhythm.

Since arriving in Las Vegas, the former Utah State star has been nothing short of spectacular. He’s blocking shots, scoring at will and hitting the glass hard. A calf injury cost him most of the second half of the Kings’ win over the Pacers on Sunday, but he still managed to put up numbers.

He avoided a major setback with his calf injury this week and is expected to suit up when the Kings face Chet Holmgren and the Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday evening. 

Through three games at the California Classic, the 23-year-old center averaged 12.3 points, 6.7 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 1.3 blocks. In Vegas, he’s bumped those numbers up to 17.5 points, 7.5 rebounds, two assists and three blocks per game, and that includes a game where he missed most of the second half.

The key numbers to look at are the rebounding and shot blocking totals. Scoring is an added bonus, but the path to the NBA for Queta will be his ability to do the dirty work, like hitting the glass, protecting the rim and setting screens early in his career.

Optimism surrounding the No. 39 overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft is growing. He will need more time to develop and likely bounce back-and-forth between the Stockton Kings of the G League and the parent club in Sacramento again this season, but his game has grown enough to truly start looking at him as a prospect who has a chance to contribute at the NBA level in the near future.

Patience is still needed and the Kings have depth at the five. Domantas Sabonis is a major minutes eater and he’s become one of the faces of the franchise since coming over from the Indiana Pacers at the trade deadline. The Kings also have Richaun Holmes for three more seasons and one year remaining on Alex Len’s contract.

Queta will get a chance to compete in training camp, but barring a trade between now and the start of the season, he’ll start the season as the Kings’ third or fourth center.

This isn’t a bad thing. Fans, both in Sacramento and in Portugal, are itching to see Queta carve out his spot in the NBA. But the 7-footer has already shown that he is willing to do the work. Allowing him another summer of training and at least parts of a season playing heavy minutes at the G League level will further his development. 

If he continues to shine in Stockton, there will come a point when the Kings will feel comfortable clearing out some of the talent ahead of him on the depth chart. Worst case, he’ll move up a spot on the food chain next summer when Len becomes a free agent. 

There is a process to developing talent in the NBA, especially for second round picks. It doesn’t always feel good for the player or his fans, both foreign and domestic, but if the focus remains on improvement and embracing the opportunity, Queta has a chance to make it. 

For now, he is a major cog on the Kings’ summer league roster. He is getting a chance to show that he belongs and that he is a player to watch in the future. He’s created a tremendous amount of buzz and he’s become a player to watch.

Lastly, Queta is providing a second scoring option and major offensive weapon for Kings rookie Keegan Murray. Being a player who can emulate Sabonis’ play style has value both to the franchise and to Queta. 

In an 82 game season, there will likely be times when the Kings will need Queta’s services. The more he can show that he can fit into the team’s system and provide some of the same skills that Sabonis possesses, the more likely he’ll earn minutes.  

Currently the Kings have Queta on a two-way contract for the upcoming season that allows him to play up to 50 games with the parent club and pays him $502,000 for the year. Sacramento still has three roster spots open, so there is potential for more, but for now, he is under team control and part of the plan. 

Queta’s role with the team can change quickly, especially if the Kings decide to move one or more of their veteran centers. The plan is for general manager Monte McNair to continue to be aggressive leading up to training camp as he overhauls the roster.

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