Hugo Gonzalez went from playing in a full season with Real Madrid, a run that ended with an ACB championship, right into training camp with the Boston Celtics.
Gonzalez only averaged 11 minutes per game in the 2024-25 campaign, but going to Summer League immediately afterwards is an exhausting endeavor.
As a Celtics coach noted to Keith Smith of Spotrac, the 19-year-old fought through fatigue while suiting up in Sin City.
"I don't care about the shooting numbers," a member of Boston's coaching staff told Smith. "His legs were Jello. He was exhausted. But he competed. He wants to win. The shot looked good before his legs went. We'll take it slow, but he's going to get real minutes as a rookie."
Gonzalez logged 26 minutes per contest across four games in Las Vegas. He averaged 10.8 points, 4.5 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 1.0 blocks.
The 28th overall pick in this year's NBA Draft shot 30.2 percent from the field and converted on 30.4 percent of the 5.8 threes he hoisted. However, as pointed out by that member of the Celtics' coaching staff, there is crucial context behind those numbers.
What matters more is that he wasn't hesitant about letting it fly, and his form looked good.
Boston's No. 28 pick Hugo González SPLASHES his first triple 💦 pic.twitter.com/vpm5OFPaI5
— NBA TV (@NBATV) July 11, 2025
After Boston's 92-78 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies in their Summer League opener, Gonzalez told Hardwood Houdini the following about the role the team's coaching staff is playing in helping him shoot with confidence.
"I'm pretty lucky that I got a staff that is pushing me right now to get better, to perform really good," said the Madrid native. "They're just giving me confidence of shooting whenever I'm open or whenever I think that I'm not [in] a good situation."
The six-foot-six wing went 3/5 from beyond the arc in that game, knocking down threes off the catch and the dribble. It was an encouraging start for Gonzalez, whose development as a shooter is the primary skill that will establish his ceiling.
How did Hugo Gonzalez perform overall at Summer League?
Gonzalez was at his best on defense in his four Sin City appearances. He is a menace at that end of the floor. He and Max Shulga would routinely pick players up full court. They gave opposing ball handlers no breathing room and fought through screens to stay in their airspace.
The former's averaging of 1.0 blocks per contest also reflects his defensive versatility. Between his motor, basketball IQ, and six-foot-seven wingspan, he has the tools to capably function as a weak-side rim protector when he finds himself in that role.
Gonzalez also showcased one of the ways he will help the Celtics win on the margins. His first points at Summer League came from crashing the glass for a put-back layup.
He's an active cutter, which produces points at the rim and extra possessions. Those will help prop up an offense that will sorely miss Jayson Tatum while he rehabs from his torn Achilles.
It's important to remember that the 19-year-old prospect is raw, and he's adjusting to a style of play in the NBA that's dramatically different than the ACB.
As he plays through his growing pains, he has the tools to demonstrate why the Celtics took a home run swing on him. There will be struggles along the way, but he has the talent and intangibles to help Boston return to title contention in short order.
