BOSTON — When Mike Brown was first introduced to center Neemias Queta, he saw a young 7-footer with a lot of talent. However, the former Sacramento Kings head coach didn't keep the former second-round draft pick on his roster, as Queta was waived in September 2023.
The Boston Celtics took advantage of the Kings' mistake, developing the former G League standout into a bona fide NBA starter. Through 20 games of the 2025-26 regular season, Queta is averaging a career-high 9.8 points and 8.5 rebounds per game with the 11-9 Celtics. Brown has witnessed this growth from afar while serving as head coach for the New York Knicks, and he admitted that he has some regrets about not giving the Portugal native another chance in Sacramento.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement"I don’t like playing against him because he can impact the game in a lot of different many ways," Brown said prior to a primetime showdown with the Celtics. "He’s going to be good for the Celtics for many years to come. And that’s a testament to Brad (Stevens) and their coaching staff finding young talent out there and helping them grow."
It was never a guarantee that the Celtics would stick with Queta either, but the 2024 NBA champion has proven invaluable to Boston. He's the anchor to the Green Team's defense and his improvement is a big reason why the Celtics are above .500 and in playoff contention.
"It looks like he's found a home," Brown stated.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementQueta will have a chance to make Brown feel some guilt on Tuesday night, when the Celtics and Knicks meet for the second time this season — and the 500th time ever.
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This article originally appeared on Celtics Wire: Celtics center Neemias Queta earned Mike Brown's respect in Sacramento
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