In order to get some wing depth, the Celtics traveled abroad with their first-round pick in the 2025 NBA Draft.
The Celtics added a 6-foot-6, high-motor talent whose potential may be difficult to determine given the minimal playing time he received with Real Madrid when Boston selected him with the No. 28 overall choice in the 2025 NBA Draft.
Greetings from Boston, the pick is inCXIBshFNol @hugoglezz_pic.twitter.com
Four things regarding Boston’s most recent first-round pick are as follows:
Gonzalez projects as a defensive-minded wing
The 19-year-old Gonzalez’s Real Madrid stat line from the previous season (3.1 points, 1.7 rebounds, and 0.5 assists per game) doesn’t stand out.
However, that lackluster output doesn’t fully capture the essence of an athletic wing who will have plenty of opportunity to mature in Boston.
Gonzalez, according to Yahoo! Sports, is a high-motor wing with excellent defensive tools and a cutting offensive flair.Regarding Gonzalez, Kevin O. Connor stated in his draft preview.He has the potential to be a versatile two-way starter if his jumper and handle improve.
Gonzalez is a fantastic athlete who began playing for the Real Madrid senior squad as a teenager, according to Sam Vecenie of The Athletic.He always plays with such intensity.
In order to get loose balls, he consistently makes second and third attempts on both offense and defense. Gonz Lez has some on-ball talent, but it will take some time for him to reach NBA standards. He is competent enough to play off the ball and as an influential defender.
Gonzalez is a great contributor on the defensive end of the ball due to his intensity and 6-foot-11 wingspan, but his offensive strength is in taking advantage of pick-and-roll situations and converting transitions.
While NBADraft.net projected Gonzalez as a player similar to Rudy Fernandez, O Connor compared him to NBA players Josh Green and Wesley Johnson.
Hugo Gonzalez was chosen by the Boston Celtics with the 28th overall choice in the 2025 NBA Draft.According to a source who spoke to ESPN, the Celtics are holding this pick and bringing Gonzalez over this season.0NfuC53eS4 pic.twitter.com/
He ll need to work on his 3-point shooting
The 19-year-old Gonzalez is anticipated to be a depth player on Boston’s bench in 2025–2026 after Brad Stevens acknowledged on Wednesday that the Celtics won’t stow him overseas.
However, Gonzalez’s shortcomings in shooting the ball will prevent him from immediately fitting into Joe Mazzulla’s favored style of play, unlike other new summer arrivals like Anfernee Simons and Georges Niang.
Gonzalez can drive to the rim and is a good defender, but he hasn’t yet established a reliable shooting in his career, particularly from 3-point range.
He will need to make threes. Vecenie pointed out that he has only made 29 percent of his 3-point attempts so far this season and that he has never been reliable.
O Connor also cited Gonzalez’s shooting form and 77.6 percent free-throw percentage as evidence that he can get better in that area, even though he might not be the kind of wing who can consistently sink shots from beyond the arc.
Gonzalez’s ceiling increases from defensive spark plug off the bench to possible starter or important rotation cog if he can establish a reliable shot.
He has played sparingly with Real Madrid
Gonzalez’s minimal Real Madrid playing time makes him somewhat of an unknown commodity, despite his intriguing player profile and tremendous potential.
Gonzalez began playing for Real Madrid’s youth team at the age of nine and progressed through the ranks before joining the professional squad.
Gonzalez chose to remain with Real Madrid this past season despite reportedly garnering interest from NCAA institutions, even though he was limited to a bench role and only played little more than 10 minutes per game on average.
“Artau Pascual, director of scouting for Eurohopes, told FIBA Basketball that Hugo stayed in Madrid when he had the option to be loaned out or leave for another continent, and the team’s circumstances have kept him from getting consistent playing time which would have surely boosted his draft stock.”
Gonzalez had limited opportunities to show off his skills during his draft year because he was playing on a squad that included former NBA players Mario Hezonja and Facundo Campazzo in addition to other seasoned players who were far older than him.
Gonzalez was nevertheless a possible underdog addition for Boston at this point in the first round due to his limited reps.
#FIBAU17 | @BaloncestoESPpic.twitter.com/YZJO8B0vtl HUGO GONZALEZ DESCENDS
Antonio Dias, a basketball scout for Eurohoops, told FIBA Basketball that few players can play for a club as lavishly decorated as Hugo Gonzalez did with Real Madrid. By sticking with a team full of NBA-caliber players and not getting as many minutes, particularly early in the season, he has most likely fallen on consensus draft boards.
However, the opportunity to play and practice with such high-caliber professional basketball players on a weekly and daily basis will always be beneficial for future endeavors.
Gonzalez comes from a basketball family
Not surprisingly, Gonzalez began playing organized basketball with Real Madrid at an early age.
Gonzalez’s dad both played basketball professionally in Spain. According to NBA.com, his mother, Montserrat Pena, was a professional basketball player for the Spanish team Alcala, while his father, Paco, played for the Spanish team Estudiantes.
My parents are the ones who gave me my first basketball memories. In an interview with the ACB YouTube channel, González stated, “They played basketball and they influenced me a bit.”It inspired me to play too.
Since 2023, Conor Ryan has worked as a staff writer for Boston.com, covering the Boston Bruins, Celtics, Patriots, and Red Sox.
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