Joe Mazulla Talks About Preparing Queta For Bigger Role This Season

Neemias Queta has been a pleasant surprise for the Boston Celtics this season. While the Celtics were preparing for Queta to take his game to a new level in his third season with the team, he may be even outperforming their lofty expectations. 

Queta is averaging career highs across the board this season. With his new expanded role, he is averaging 10.1 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks per game. 

Queta recently had a career game against the Philadelphia 76ers, where he scored 27 points, 17 rebounds, and notched three blocks. Joe Mazzulla spoke after the game about Queta’s development and path to where he is now. 

“I don't look at just him. I look at the staff, you know. I look at the player development staff. I look at the Maine staff. We look at the system and the identity and the process that we have. There's a lot of people that go into where he's at now.…But you have to give him credit. Part of telling him in the summer that he was going to be the starting center was giving him the time to properly wrap his mind around, and physically, mentally, and emotionally prepare himself for what it means to be the starting center for the Celtics. And I think he's taken on that ownership and responsibility well, and he's got to keep it going.”

Preparing Queta to be a starter worked. He came into the season ready to take on a larger role and play the best basketball of his career. He’s done that, and the Celtics are reaping the rewards.