Benfica (2017–2018) In the
2017–18 season, Queta played two professional games for
Benfica in the
Portuguese Basketball League. On 31 August 2018, he parted ways with Benfica.
Sacramento Kings (2021–2023) Queta was selected in the second round of the
2021 NBA draft with the 39th pick by the
Sacramento Kings, becoming the first Portuguese player to be drafted in the NBA. On 8 August 2021, he signed a
two-way contract with Sacramento, splitting time with their
NBA G League affiliate, the
Stockton Kings. On 17 August 2021, the Sacramento Kings won the
NBA Summer League, beating the Boston Celtics, 100–67. Queta was a regular presence in all the games of the Californian team, which had not won the Las Vegas tournament since 2014, the year in which they defeated the Houston Rockets. On 17 December 2021, Queta made his NBA debut against the
Memphis Grizzlies, grabbing five rebounds and adding an assist and a block. He entered COVID-19 protocols on 21 December, but was cleared to return to the Kings on 30 December. Queta made his return to the G League on 5 January 2022, recording 21 points and 12 rebounds for Stockton in a 103–80 win over the
Birmingham Squadron. On 11 January 2022, Queta became the first Portuguese player to score points in the NBA, recording 11 points and 5 rebounds in a 109–108 loss to the
Cleveland Cavaliers. Queta was named to the G League's inaugural Next Up Game for the 2022–23 season. Despite the fact that he was not a regular starter for the Sacramento Kings, Neemias Queta was the Californian team's most voted player for the 2022 NBA All Star Game. He received 88,534 votes from the public and also had one vote from an NBA player. On 8 August 2023, Queta signed a standard contract with Sacramento, but was waived on 12 September.
Boston Celtics (2023–present) 2023–24 season: First NBA Championship On 19 September 2023, Queta signed a
two-way contract with the
Boston Celtics. On 26 November 2023, Queta contributed with seven points and a personal record of 10 rebounds in the NBA to the Boston Celtics' home victory over the Atlanta Hawks (113–103). In the end, he was awarded a Tommy Award, an award that recognizes players who excel in their team's defense and who have an impact that cannot be translated into statistical data. On 19 December, in the Boston Celtics' 132–126 loss to the
Golden State Warriors, Queta recorded his first double-double by notching 10 points and 10 rebounds in 21 minutes on the floor. He repeated the feat four days later against the
Los Angeles Clippers, scoring 14 points with 10 rebounds. With a positive highlight this season in the colors of the Celtics, Queta came in 49th place in the Eastern vote for power forwards and centers for the 2024 All–Star game, having collected 15,967 votes from fans, two from NBA players and none from journalists. On 8 April 2024, Queta signed a standard contract with the
Boston Celtics. The commitment came after the positive performances of the Portuguese center in the campaign of the
Maine Celtics, in the
G League, during the playoffs, which culminated in a performance of 16 points and 19 rebounds in the triumph against the
Long Island Nets in the final of the Eastern conference of that league and consequent qualification of the team for the final. In the last game of the regular season on 14 April 2024, a 132–122 victory over the
Washington Wizards, Queta scored 19 points and tallied nine rebounds, six blocks and one assist in just 19 minutes of playing time. On 7 May, Queta made his debut in the
NBA playoffs with 2 points and 2 rebounds in just under 3 minutes of play, in the victory against the
Cleveland Cavaliers (120–95). On 14 June, in his first NBA Finals game, he ended with 2 points and 1 block in almost 5 minutes of play during a loss against the
Dallas Mavericks (84–122). Queta became an NBA champion on 17 June, after the Celtics defeated the Mavericks in 5 games.
2024–25 season: Contract extension On 6 July 2024, Queta signed a three-year, $7.2 million contract with the Celtics. On 4 November, Queta made his first career start, tallying 10 points and 7 rebounds in a 123–93 victory over the
Atlanta Hawks. He also became the first Portuguese player to start an NBA game.
2025–26 season: Transition to starter The Celtics underwent considerable roster upheaval during the 2025 offseason, including major changes in the
front court with the departures of
Kristaps Porziņģis,
Al Horford, and
Luke Kornet. Prior to the start of the
2025-26 season, Queta was named the team's starting center. On November 29, 2025, he scored 19 points and recorded a career high 18 rebounds, including 8 offensive boards, in a 119-115 loss to the
Minnesota Timberwolves. Factoring in his 2 blocks, Queta became the first Celtic to reach those statistical marks in a game since
Robert Parish in 1989. On March 1, 2026, Queta recorded a career-high 27 points to go along with 17 rebounds, 10 of which were offensive, and 3 blocks in a 114–98 victory over the
Philadelphia 76ers. ==National team career==