Boston Celtics Media Day is finally upon us – the time of year where we get to meet new faces, learn about what the players and staff worked on in the offseason, and understand the expectations they’ve laid out for themselves in the year ahead.
There’s been some significant churn with the roster this time around, which presented a few narratives of its own. Boston lost five of their six oldest players on the roster: Al Horford, Jrue Holiday, Kristaps Porzingis, Luke Kornet, and Torrey Craig – those
guys ranging from 30 to 39 years young. The oldest returning player on the roster is Derrick White at just 31 years, though the newest addition, Chris Boucher, is officially the oldest player on the roster at 32.
Many of the players who spoke at Media Day mentioned the loss of the vets, noting the new roles opening up on the court, as well as what was passed down to the other players in terms of mentorship. Neemias Queta specifically mentioned how the departure of the vets created a void in leadership, but he saw it as more of an opportunity.
“It’s a different team… it’s a part of our growth. Our younger guys, we gotta find our voice,” he said.
Much of the focus this year for the Celtics is seeing who can breakout into a bigger role and become a significant contributor, making Queta’s comments especially encouraging. To me, they show an eagerness to take the team as a whole to a new level, not just a personal goal to play better on the court. It’s an emphasis on what Joe Mazzulla has been preaching since the beginning – putting their mindset above all else.
Queta had a lot of opportunity in the first third of last year’s season with Kristaps Porzingis rehabbing from injury, but that opportunity dwindled as the season went on. Despite that, he kept his head up and played with full effort whenever his name was called. After the conclusion of the NBA season, he also put together an excellent performance in EuroBasket this past summer.
Neemi, a native of Portugal, led his home country’s team past the group phase to bracket play where they lost to Germany in the first round, Germany ultimately going on to win the whole tournament. Queta led his team in points, rebounds, blocks, and efficiency, averaging 15.5 points, 8 rebounds, and 1.7 blocks. He looked dominant at times, and was a physical menace.
Obviously, EuroBasket and the NBA are very different, but the leadership which Neemi displayed over the summer can prove to be very valuable if he’s able to carry it over this season. Joe Mazzulla loved what he saw from Queta, saying “the passion with which you represent your country is similar to playing for the Celtics… Now we have the confidence that he can do it every night.”
Neemi should have plenty of opportunity on the court this year, potentially being the starting center from day one. His minutes will be decided by Joe, but the leadership opportunity off the court is almost entirely up for him to seize.
Even with Jayson Tatum sidelined for what will probably be a large chunk of the season, he’ll likely have a significant voice in the locker room, as will Jaylen Brown. Derrick White, Payton Pritchard, and maybe even Anfernee Simons will have to make their voices heard too, but Queta seems ready to bring an intensity that can round out the leadership group, and breathe life into the underdog mentality that Boston will probably be going into the season with.
