Pride of Portugal: Kings center Neemias Queta finishes second in NBA G League MVP voting

Stockton Kings center Neemias Queta finished second in NBA G League MVP voting after leading his team to the best record in the league this season.

Chicago Bulls guard Carlik Jones was named G League Most Valuable Player on Wednesday for his play with the Windy City Bulls. Jones averaged 26.1 points, 4.4 rebounds, 7.0 assists and 1.7 steals in 24 games for Windy City, leading the league in scoring.

Jones was chosen as MVP in a vote by the G League’s 30 head coaches and general managers. Queta was the runner-up for the award followed by Brooklyn Nets two-way guard David Duke Jr.

Queta, a two-way player who was drafted by the Sacramento Kings in 2021, led G League Stockton to a 25-7 record this season. The 7-foot center averaged 16.8 points, 8.8 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.9 blocks in 29 games for Stockton.

In February, Queta was selected to participate in the inaugural NBA G League Next Up Game as part of All-Star Weekend in Salt Lake City. Queta scored a team-high 22 points on 10-of-12 shooting with nine rebounds and five assists.

Sacramento selected Queta out of Utah State with the 39^th overall pick in the 2021 draft. Queta, a native of Portugal, became the first Portuguese player to appear in an NBA game when he made his Kings debut against the Memphis Grizzlies on Dec. 17, 2021.

Queta has appeared in 19 NBA games over two seasons while splitting time between Sacramento and Stockton, averaging 3.0 points, 2.1 rebounds and 0.5 blocks in 7.6 minutes per game. He had 10 points and three rebounds in 11 minutes in Sacramento’s 134-120 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers on Dec. 21. His career high came when he scored 11 points in a loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers on Jan. 10, 2022.