Four Celtics Players Battle for Global Spots This Week
Most fans think the season wraps up once the playoffs fade, but four Boston Celtics players are already lacing up for their national teams. It’s a rare twist for the squad, as they’ll all compete in FIBA World Cup qualifiers this very week. The group includes two-way center Amari Williams, Luka Garza, Hugo Gonzalez, and Neemias Queta. They’re fighting to get their countries to the 2027 tournament in Qatar, not just watching from the bench.
The schedule is packed with high-stakes games starting Thursday. Amari Williams and Great Britain face Switzerland on Thursday at 1pm ET. Luka Garza leads Bosnia against Italy on Friday at 2pm ET. The most interesting matchup features Hugo Gonzalez and Neemias Queta going head-to-head when Spain battles Portugal on Friday at 3pm ET. All these games decide which nations earn one of the 32 spots for the World Cup.
Coach Mazzulla Spotted Watching Gonzalez
Joe Mazzulla, the Celtics head coach, traveled to Spain to see Hugo Gonzalez play earlier this summer. He sat with the player’s family and talked with the national team coach instead of critiquing every move. “It was cool to just watch him play,” Mazzulla told CelticsBlog in July. He noted that it was a different game and he just wanted to be there for Gonzalez. The coach got to learn from the other staff while watching from a fresh perspective.
Gonzalez proved his value in that match by scoring 16 points in 20 minutes. He also dished out 5 assists, grabbed 5 rebounds, and recorded 2 steals plus a block. He hit 4 of his 7 three-point attempts during that strong showing. This performance showed he can handle the pressure of international play while wearing the Celtics colors.
Garza and Queta Bring Big Numbers
Luka Garza has been a standout for Bosnia, coming off the bench to make a huge impact. He scored 16 points and grabbed 7 rebounds in a game against Nikola Jokic and Serbia. In a defeat against Turkey, he later scored 27 points and grabbed 8 rebounds. Per CelticsBlog, he tallied 27 points on 9-of-14 shooting with 8 free throws made. He also added 2 blocks in 23 minutes of action during that tight loss.
Neemias Queta is also back on the court for Portugal right after signing a massive deal. The Celtics secured a 4-year, $56 million extension with him just now. Now he returns to represent his home country in these crucial qualifiers. The 32 teams fighting for spots include seven from the Americas, seven from Asia/Oceana, five from Africa, and 12 from Europe. Qatar gets an automatic spot as the host nation for the event in August and September.
