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Neemias Queta wants to win Most Improved Player, but won’t let it change his game

· Yahoo Sports

BOSTON — The Boston Celtics have built a winning culture on the idea that collective achievement should always outweigh individual accomplishments. The 2025-26 Celtics have embodied that mentality well, especially on Sunday afternoon during a 115-101 win over the Toronto Raptors in which practically every Green Teamer contributed meaningful minutes. But just because the C's believe in "we" before "me" doesn't mean they lack players who deserve unique recognition.

Celtics center Neemias Queta comes to mind, as the 7-footer went from a G League hero to a reliable starter in just a single season. He wreaked havoc on the Raptors with 16 points in the first half and finished with 18 points, a game-high 5 offensive rebounds, and a game-high 3 blocks in under 34 minutes.

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This impressive performance would've stunned TD Garden in the past. Now, it's just another game for Queta.

"He's been just consistently getting better protecting the rim, finishing, making those little shots, rebounding," Celtics star Jaylen Brown praised in the locker room.

Although Queta isn't listed by most sportsbooks as a candidate for the NBA's Most Improved Player, Brown argued that his name should be in the mix.

"In my opinion, he's probably one of the most improved players this year," Brown said unprompted. "I don't know if he's up for the award, but he should be.”

While most pundits and fans didn't see Queta's meteoric rise coming, the Portuguese center was confident that he'd thrive in a bigger role.

"Before the season, (I) just talked about it with my agent and wanted to let him know, ’This is kind of doable,'" he said of his Most Improved Player candidacy. "Ever since then, it’s becoming more and more clear that it’s possible."

Although some guys play it cool when they're mentioned in the same breath as an NBA award, Queta wasn't nonchalant about winning MIP. Instead, he told Celtics Wire that it's been on his mind quite a lot.

"I think about it all the time," he said earnestly. "I feel like I made a good case for it."

However, there's not a selfish bone in Queta's body, so he isn't one to chase an award and forget the end goal in the process. It's part of what makes him such a great Celtic.

"At the end of the day, I'm just helping the team win, and that's my main goal," he stated. "Obviously, that's secondary, the Most Improved (Player), but just glad I'm helping my teammates getting to the spot we're at right now. And whether I want it or I don't want it, it's not going to change my perspective and the approach I take every night.”

With Queta's help, the Celtics are 53-25 overall and in second place in the Eastern Conference. The Lisbon native has come a long way since sitting at the end of the bench as a rookie with the Sacramento Kings. He's currently averaging career-highs in points, rebounds, assists, and blocks in his fifth season and is making life easier for Celtics stars Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown.

"Just his ability — his screening and reads, opens it up for all of us, because we can run our actions," Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla explained in his postgame press conference on Sunday. "He's just been doing a great job of that. So, it helps Jayson and Jaylen, but I think it helps our whole team as well."

Entering the 2025-26 campaign, Boston's biggest question mark revolved around the five spot and who could fill the void left by former Celtics bigs Kristaps Porzingis, Al Horford, and Luke Kornet. Flash forward to the final weeks of the regular season and there's no question who the Green Team's starting center will be ahead of the playoffs.

"He's been great," Brown described of Queta.

Humble beginnings, an impressive work ethic, and a commitment to the Celtic Way have helped turn Queta into a bona fide stud. Those factors also keep him from getting lost in his success, because he refuses to let an award — even one he wants and deserves — define him.

"Make it or break it, it's not going to change me," Queta said of potentially winning Most Improved Player.

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This article originally appeared on Celtics Wire: Neemias Queta refuses to let hunt for Most Improved Player award interfere with Celtics success

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