Hugo González leads Celtics draft trio eager to get into the mix with an iconic franchise

Boston Globe

01-07-2025

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González's Spanish League season concluded with a championship less than a week ago. Hours later, around 5 a.m. in Spain, he was chosen by the Celtics. He joined Real Madrid's youth program when he was just 10 years old and progressed swiftly, this year taking the floor with a squad filled with former NBA players.
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'What they just told me [about the NBA] is, 'Be yourself. How you play, you're going to have success,' ' González said. 'And I'm having that feedback really on my mind, because they've got a ton of experience, way more than that, and if they tell me that, they know what they're saying. So, I appreciate that.'
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González, a 6-foot-6 wing, called it a 'privilege' to be joining a franchise with a history as rich as Boston's, and he said his experience with Real Madrid, which has won a record 38 Spanish League titles, has helped prepare him for the great expectations that come with being a Celtic.
'So, I'm pretty used to team success,' González said. 'It's the first and the main thing for the whole season. It's nothing that I need to learn. It's something that I already have in my DNA. So I think that's going to help a franchise like the Celtics, too, and I hope that it does.'
González is expected to join the Celtics during the NBA Las Vegas summer league and said he hoped to play in games there, but the team is cognizant that his season in Spain just concluded, and it will have the final say.
'I'm pretty excited about it,' González said. 'I just want to get out and work already and look out for the next steps.'
Williams, a 6-10 center drafted 46th out of Kentucky, might suddenly be in line for more opportunities following the departures of Porzingis and Kornet, and the looming loss of Horford.
The Celtics on Monday agreed to a two-year deal with veteran center Luka Garza, who will join returning big men Neemias Queta and Xavier Tillman. There should be chances to secure playing time with that group.
'I mean it's fun, just being able to learn from the older guys [like] Queta, who's been here for quite a while,' Williams said. 'Just kind of being a sponge and kind of learning as the season goes on, so it'll be a fun year.'
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Shulga emerged as an excellent 3-point shooter during his three years at Utah State and two at VCU before the Celtics selected him 57th last Thursday. He still finds it hard to believe that his NBA career is about to begin.
'It's going to take a couple weeks,' he said. 'When I walked in the [Auerbach Center] it still felt a little bit like I'm going around and doing workouts and stuff like that. But it's an unbelievable feeling and a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.'
On Tuesday morning, the rookies met with Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla, who wasted no time laying out his plans and expectations for the coming year.
'He said it was going to be hard,' Shulga said. 'Just the most important thing is that you have to play hard and play for your teammates. Those are the most important things. Have passion for the game and just play like it means something to you.'
Adam Himmelsbach can be reached at