Neemias Queta has had a busy offseason as he prepares for the 2025–26 NBA season. Set to represent Portugal in EuroBasket 2025, Queta shared that it will be the first time the national team competes with a fully loaded roster.
In a conversation with Bobby Manning of Celtics on CLNS, the potential Boston Celtics starter disclosed that he underwent surgery earlier this summer but has since been cleared to join Portugal’s squad.
“We’re confident in the recovery process and thankful for the care we received,” Queta said. “My goal is to be fully healthy again, and I believe I’m headed in the right direction.”
He admitted that bouncing back from surgery hasn’t been easy. “I’ve had a couple before, and this time it was all about rebuilding leg strength. We did similar rehab drills, but I had to take nutrition even more seriously.”
Calling it a “new me,” Queta added, “We’re aiming to reach our highest potential right away.”
Celtics Slide in Power Rankings Amid Uncertainty
The Boston Celtics have seen a dramatic fall in preseason power rankings. ESPN now places them 17th overall and just seventh in the Eastern Conference. Even worse, NBA.com’s John Schuhmann ranks them 12th out of 15 teams in the East, dropping from ninth a week earlier.
Schuhmann pointed out that the team’s core talent is now largely on the perimeter. With a depleted frontcourt consisting of Neemias Queta, Luka Garza, and Xavier Tillman and Georges Niang expected to log significant minutes at power forward the Celtics could face serious matchup problems against top-tier teams.
He noted that Boston might set new records for three-point attempts, but without Jayson Tatum’s playmaking, shot quality is likely to dip. “This season may feel like a gap year,” Schuhmann wrote, “but it doesn’t have to be a waste rookies like Baylor Scheierman could benefit from increased opportunities.”
After finishing last season 61–21 and reaching the Eastern Conference semifinals, the Celtics now enter the upcoming season with tempered expectations due to major roster changes and uncertainty in the frontcourt.
