In a message published on the presidential website, the Head of State praised the Portuguese Post for not giving up on his dreams.
“Dreams, in sport as in life, no matter how difficult, can become reality through work, dedication and commitment, and Neemias Queta is a great example of how a dream born in the Vale da Amorera can become a reality at the top of world sport. Congratulations to Neemias because you have not Never give up on your dreams. May your example continue to inspire the Portuguese youth!”, can be read in Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa’s message.
Luis Montenegro also highlighted that Neemias Queta is the first Portuguese NBA champion.
“Another historic result for Portuguese sport. The Portuguese spirit is alive and revealing itself every day. Congratulations to Nemeas and the Boston Celtics,” the head of government confirmed, in a post on the social network X.
At the age of 24, Neemias Queta became an NBA champion with the Boston Celtics in his first season with the Massachusetts team and in his third season in the competition, in which he was the first Portuguese basketball player to play, when he was selected in the draft by the Sacramento Kings in Year 2021.
It took Portuguese center Neemias Queta just three seasons, and one season with the Boston Celtics, to win basketball’s most coveted title at the club level, the North American Championship, the NBA.
The 2.13m tall Portuguese ‘giant’ has the coveted team award, but his third season in the competition, after two in Sacramento, has been anything but a surefire one, despite breaking almost all of his individual records.
In a team full of great players, even if not the 2023/24 champion, Neemias Koita had little ‘space’ to prove himself and rarely got into Joe Mazzola’s rotation, and his usage in the playoffs was almost zero.
