Neemias Queta is already making his mark for the Stockton Kings

It isn’t hard to find Neemias Queta on the court.

As the only true 7-footer on the Stockton Kings, his physical presence commands your attention.

What also stood out Monday night were his numbers. The Sacramento Kings’ 2021 second-round pick out of Utah State had his third NBA G League double-double with 23 points and a game-high 14 rebounds in a 96-86 loss to G League Ignite at Stockton Arena.

.@nemi1599 records 3rd double-double in Showcase against Ignite. pic.twitter.com/5DemR52Jke

— Stockton Kings (@StocktonKings) November 30, 2021

He also had a blocked shot and two assists — a number that easily could have been tripled. I counted at least four times he passed out of double teams in the post to wide-open 3-point attempts which didn’t drop.

What I noticed from Queta is his activity on defense. Sure, some of the shots he defended were knocked down, but he had his hand up on just about every attempt in his area. There was an early Ignite possession where he went out toward the free-throw line to challenge the ballhandler, but the Kings didn’t rotate to help, resulting in an uncontested layup. That was the only easy bucket I remembered the visitors getting on his watch.

As he adjusts from the college game — he’s Utah State’s all-time leader in blocked shots and blocks per game — to the pros, Queta says he already feels good on one side of the ball.

“I feel really comfortable playing defense,” Queta said after the game, adding that he feels like it’s his trademark on the court.

On offense he probably could have scored more Monday, but there were numerous occasions where he rolled to the basket without receiving a pass that likely would have resulted in a dunk or layup. Still, he missed his G League career scoring high by one. He scored 24 points in his league debut and has helped Stockton to a 5-3 record this season.

As he gains professional experience, he says he just needs to adjust to how the game is played at this level.

“It’s a different type of pace, got to make decisions quicker, but I feel like I’ve been doing a really good job with it,” Queta said. “The coaching staff and my teammates have been putting me in good situations to succeed.”

Sacramento Kings interim head coach Alvin Gentry was watching from the front row at center court Monday, as were a few of the players on the NBA roster, but Queta says his focus is on the present and being prepared if or when the parent club calls his number.

That could be as soon as today. ESPN 1320’s James Ham tweeted that Queta is with Sacramento, which plays host to the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday night at Golden 1 Center.

“It’s more about making sure I’m ready,” Queta said. “That’s what they’ve been telling me: ‘Make sure you’re ready whenever the opportunity comes.’ I can’t be worrying about when it’s going to come … I’ve just got to stay locked in and do what I’ve got to do every single day.”