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Celtics select Real Madrid guard Hugo Gonzalez 28th overall in NBA Draft
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Brad Stevens, president of basketball operations for the Celtics, praised their 2025 NBA first-round pick on Wednesday.
Hugo Gonzalez, a 19-year-old Madrid, Spain native who is six feet six inches tall, was selected by Boston with the 28th overall choice. A youth who most recently averaged 10.7 minutes per game in 69 outings for Real Madrid this season was selected under the radar.
During his post-draft press conference at the Auerbach Center, Stevens remarked of the forward, “We’ve been watching Hugo for a long time.” Evidently, he has been on everyone’s radar for a while. I simply adore the way he plays. He is hard-playing, tough, cuts, chases the ball, and competes. He possesses every intangible necessary to be a successful basketball player.
Like everyone else at that age, he has areas for improvement, but his level of competitiveness is great.
Gonzalez joined Real Madrid in 2022 and spent two seasons playing for their U18 squad in addition to playing for the professional squad. He averaged 3.4 points per game in 2024–25, his first season playing only for the professional team.
Greetings from Boston, the pick is inCXIBshFNol @hugoglezz_pic.twitter.com
Gonzalez played with a number of former NBA players, including Bruno Fernando, Mario Hezonja, Serge Ibaka, and former Celtic Guerschon Yabusele, while playing for Real Madrid this past season (the team won the Liga ACB title on Wednesday).
Even though Gonzalez hasn’t played much on the court in recent years, Stevens stressed how important it is that he learn from these players.
He seems like a youthful man with a hint of age in him. According to Stevens, he has long played with grownups. He is playing for a team that is made up of elite professionals from all over the world as well as seasoned former NBA players. This person has had excellent coaching and has been around it at a high level.
Stevens reiterated his belief that Gonzalez’s ability to learn from former NBA players distinguishes him from other draft prospects. Stevens added that Gonzalez is exactly the competitive player the team is looking for.
He’s hanging out with some guys who have been pros for a long time. According to Stevens, they are skilled players. They are difficult to defeat. They are intelligent, tough, athletic, and incredibly well-coached. You have to earn your stripes when you’re that age and in that circumstance. Being able to play for those teams is fantastic.
Wearing a Real Madrid jersey entails taking on responsibilities comparable to this one. That’s a positive thing, in my opinion. It was very evident to us during our Zoom interview a few weeks ago that Hugo is committed to that team and is prepared to play any role that may be required of him. Since none of the men in the draft have ever sat, that is not an acquired feature. Humility and the realization that you must make daily investments in order to seize any chance that presents itself come with it.
A few Celtics players who have experienced comparable circumstances will welcome Gonzalez whenever he travels to New England. In addition, Boston is currently developing Jordan Walsh, J.D. Davidson, and Baylor Scheierman after they were picked by the team in previous years. The Celtics see their potential to develop into key players as similar to Stevens’ assessment of Gonzalez.
Stevens stated, “We were ecstatic that Hugo was available at 28.”
Stevens added that Gonzalez will be brought to Boston immediately to adjust.
Stevens wasn’t sure, though, if Gonzalez will play in the Summer League, which starts in Las Vegas on July 10.
Boston.com sports producer Kaley Brown covers the Boston Bruins, Boston Celtics, Patriots, and Boston Red Sox.
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