Celtics Players Shine in Different Ways at FIBA World Cup Qualifiers: Queta Stuns Spain, Garza Stays Steady

Three Celtics-Linked Players, Three Different Kinds of Impact

The FIBA World Cup qualifying window has turned into a reminder that the Boston Celtics' roster depth stretches well beyond scoring punch. Amari Williams, Luka Garza and Neemias Queta each represented different national teams this cycle, and each did so in his own way rebounding, defending, facilitating, and yes, scoring, but never leaning on just one skill.

Great Britain opened its window with a lopsided 110-75 win over Switzerland, and Williams contributed 8 points, 7 rebounds and 2 assists in just 19 minutes. It wasn't a scoring showcase it was a glimpse of the two-way versatility that made him a draft pick worth watching in Boston.

Garza, representing Israel in the qualifiers, has been the steadiest scorer of the group. Across three games — including outings against Türkiye (23 points, 8 rebounds) and Serbia (20 points, 7 rebounds) he's averaging 17.7 points and 7.3 rebounds, good for an efficiency rating of 19.7. It's the kind of consistent bucket-getting that translates directly from his college days at Iowa.

Then there's Queta, whose line for Portugal against Spain reads like a stat sheet built for winning, not padding: 16 points, 9 rebounds, 2 steals and an assist. Three very different games. Three very different value systems on the floor.

Queta's Free-Throw Perfection Fuels Portugal's Upset Over Spain

Of the three performances, Queta's carries the most weight. Portugal beat Spain 95-89 — a result that qualifies as a genuine upset given Spain's standing in European basketball — and Queta was central to it. He grabbed five offensive rebounds alone, repeatedly extending Portuguese possessions against a bigger, more experienced roster.

He backed that up at the free-throw line, going a perfect 6-for-6 in 24 minutes and 37 seconds of action. In a game decided by six points, those makes weren't incidental — they were the margin. Add in nine total rebounds, two steals and an assist, and Queta's fingerprints were on nearly every phase of the win.

It's worth noting what the stat line doesn't include: volume scoring beyond his 16 points. Queta didn't need to dominate the box score to dominate the game — a distinction that mirrors the role he's carved out in Boston as a defensive anchor and rebounding specialist rather than a primary offensive option.

Why This Qualifying Window Matters Beyond the Box Scores

FIBA World Cup qualifiers exist to determine which national teams earn a spot in the sport's biggest global tournament, and for Celtics fans, this window has doubled as an unofficial scouting report. Watching Williams, Garza and Queta operate away from Boston's system — without the same spacing, same teammates, or same defensive scheme — offers a cleaner look at what each player actually brings on his own.

Great Britain's campaign, in particular, is one worth tracking closely. The team is still working through its qualifying schedule, and Williams' minutes and role figure to grow as the stakes increase. For a young player still building his NBA identity, every extended run in a competitive international setting is additional reps that don't show up on an NBA stat sheet but shape how a player reads the game.

None of these performances will move the needle on Boston's rotation battles by themselves. But they reinforce a broader point about the Celtics' current roster: the value isn't concentrated in one archetype. Rebounding, connective passing, disciplined free-throw shooting — all of it matters, and all of it is being tested right now on a stage far from TD Garden.

What's Next: Great Britain Hosts Finland

The next confirmed date on the calendar is September 2, 2026, when Great Britain hosts Finland at the O2 Arena in London. It's a home game inside the current qualifying window, and it's a chance for Williams to build on the two-way showing he had against Switzerland in front of a home crowd.

Specific upcoming dates for Israel and Portugal weren't confirmed in this reporting window, but both teams remain active in the same qualifying cycle, meaning Garza and Queta should see the floor again soon. Given how differently each player has impacted his team so far — Garza through steady scoring, Queta through winning-formula fundamentals — the next round of games should keep telling the same story: this group of Celtics-linked talent doesn't need a single blueprint to make a difference.