The Boston Celtics confirmed on Saturday the succession of Portuguese Nehemias Queta to the team that won the North American Basketball League (NBA) championship for the 18th time.
Last weekend, the North American specialized press already reported that the Portuguese center had signed a multi-year contract with the Celtics, which has now been confirmed by the franchise, announcing his return after the player was declared “free”.
“We are pleased that Nimi has decided to return and sign with the Celtics,” said former coach and current Celtics president Brad Stevens, noting that he is “thrilled with his success last season and looks forward to better days ahead.”
The Celtics had the option to automatically extend the Portuguese’s contract through the 2024-25 season, but they did not take advantage of that opportunity to extend it.
Nehemias Kveta joined the Boston Bruins for the 2023-24 season and won a championship in his first season after two years with the Sacramento Kings (2021-22 and 2022-23), who selected him 39th overall in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft.
On a team full of great players, Nehemias Quete had little “space” to prove himself, rarely making the rotation and seeing very little use in the playoffs, but coach Joe Mazzulla always rated him highly.
The Portuguese star played in just three of the Celtics’ 19 games, including one in the finals, where he entered the game with 5.25 minutes remaining as Boston lost to the Mavericks by 45 points, the only loss of the series (84-122).
In the short time he had in the “final”, he scored two points, converting the only “shot” he attempted, and also managed to make a tackle, “winning” by seven while he was on the field.
He previously played in the first two games of the conference semifinals when the Cleveland Cavaliers entered the game, winning 120-95 and losing 94-118, with the games decided. He added two points and three rebounds in eight minutes.
However, after signing a standard contract with the Celtics on April 8, he was one of the Boston team’s 15 selected for the playoffs and was always on the bench.
Playing in three playoff games, the first in history, Nehemias Kveta has 31 goals in the 2023-24 season, as well as in 28 regular-season games, with almost all of them (24) ending in triumphs for the Massachusetts team.
During the regular season, the 24-year-old Portuguese averaged 5.5 points and 4.4 rebounds in 11.9 minutes.
Author: Lusa
Source: CM Jornal
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