4 years, $56 million! Keta confirms extension with Celtics, becomes key rotation player

On July 3, Beijing time, per Shams, Boston Celtics big man Keta is set to ink a four-year, $56 million extension with the franchise. Keta has grown into a vital rotation piece for the Celtics: He started as a two-way player and last season posted averages of 10.2 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks as the starting center. The Celtics exercised their team option on Keta for next season, then added a fully guaranteed four-year extension on top, keeping him under contract through the 2030-31 season.

Standing at 7 feet tall and weighing 247 pounds, Keta wears jersey No. 88. He is the only Portuguese player currently active in the NBA and serves as the Celtics' starting center.

Selected by the Kings with the 39th overall pick in the second round of the 2021 NBA Draft, Keta saw little playing time in his first two seasons, appearing in just 15 total regular-season games and averaging only 3 points and 2.1 rebounds. Waived by the Kings in the 2023 offseason, he joined the Celtics on a two-way contract, helping them win the 2024 championship. During that period, he frequently shuttled between the NBA and the G League, receiving only sporadic minutes on the court.

Following the departures of frontcourt players like Horford and Porzingis, Keta seized his opportunity and officially became the Celtics' starting center in the 2025-26 season. He started 75 of 76 regular-season games, averaging 10.2 points, 8.4 rebounds, 1.7 assists, and 1.3 blocks while shooting an impressive 65.3% from the field. His 3.1 offensive rebounds per game ranked eighth in the league, and his rim protection was elite, reducing opponents' shooting percentage within 10 feet by 9.3%.

Technically, he is a traditional big man: his offense relies on pick-and-roll finishes and putbacks, he possesses decent passing vision from the post, and he rarely attempts outside shots. Defensively, he excels at boxing out, grabbing rebounds, and blocking shots around the rim. His weakness is lateral quickness, making it difficult for him to switch onto perimeter guards. In college, he played for Utah State, where he set a school record with 84 blocks in a single season and won both the conference's Freshman of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year awards.