Latest news with #HugoGonzález
New York Times
12-07-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Celtics' Hugo González upset about free throws, but happy with win in summer league debut
LAS VEGAS — One of the most revealing moments of Hugo González's summer league debut came at halftime. When the Celtics walked onto the court to warm up for the second half, most of González's teammates scattered across the 3-point arc, casually shooting outside shots. González, Boston's first-round pick, headed straight for the free-throw line. He had missed four free throws during the first half of his team's 92-78 win against Memphis, including all three after a 3-point foul. If he could prevent another cold streak like that, he was going to do it. Advertisement 'I'm not allowing myself to miss like today,' González said. 'What I'm getting upset (about) because of today's game is because of the free-throw line. Something that, of course, everything in my game I need to improve, but it's something that I'm not allowing again.' González was the only Celtics player to attempt any free throws during the quick halftime break. He didn't try shots from anywhere else, releasing one free throw after another, his expressive face revealing how he felt about each attempt. Normally solid from the free-throw line, it disgusted him that he had missed so many in the first half. 'That was the main reason (why), at halftime, I was shooting free throws,' González said, 'because I'm really, really, obsessed with giving my best performance. And I'm not allowing (myself) to miss like that again.' For as many skills as González showcased during a promising summer league debut, his attitude stood out the most. He expressed frustration after mistakes. He celebrated big plays with screams and gestures. While piling up 12 points, five assists, two blocks and a steal over a team-high 28 minutes, he pressured opponents full-court, attacked the rim with aggression and competed with a sense of bravado. 'I would say Hugo and the whole team were just pressuring relentlessly the whole game,' said Celtics summer league head coach Matt Reynolds. 'That's what we asked them to do. And he ended up on the ball handlers a lot. Particularly down the stretch, you could see that he was kind of wearing it a little bit. But that was an excellent tone that he and our backcourt set throughout the course of the game.' Despite the missed free throws, González's debut brought more ups than downs. On the Celtics' opening possession, he tracked down an offensive rebound and finished a putback layup. Later in the first quarter, he showcased his ability to lead the fast break by drawing a foul with a Eurostep in transition. For the game, he sank three of his five 3-point attempts, a promising start for him after he shot just 28.6 percent from deep for Real Madrid last season. One of his makes was an off-the-dribble 3-pointer near the end of the shot clock, turning what could have been an empty possession into a basket. His five assists included a pretty lefty dish to Charles Bassey for a dunk. This is the good stuff — Pull up shoot (@NElGHT_) July 11, 2025 While helping the Celtics pull away in the fourth quarter, González helped to force several turnovers. He drew one offensive foul while working to stay with Cam Spencer around a screen and another offensive foul on a Spencer drive. With about four minutes left, González pumped his fist in celebration after hounding Aaron Estrada throughout a key defensive possession and helping to force a shot clock violation. Advertisement González wasn't perfect. He got stripped during the first quarter and threw a couple of passes that were deflected. With the Celtics ahead early in the fourth quarter, he missed two shots in a row: a floater from inside the paint and a tough layup through contact. He shot just 4 for 12 from the field (1 for 7 on 2-point attempts) and 1 for 5 from the free-throw line. He looked exhausted on the court at times, not necessarily a surprise considering he played limited minutes for Real Madrid last season. 'It was hard to catch up with the pace and everything,' González said. 'When I was in Europe, the game is a lot of times a little bit slower, trying to have the possession until the end (of the shot clock). Here, if you got a shot, you better take it. That's actually making the game really up and down and you gotta catch up with that if you wanna play. I'm just trying to adapt as soon as I can so (I can) contribute to the team.' González, 19, finished his season in Spain on the same day as the NBA Draft. Especially for a teenager moving to the United States for the first time, it was a quick turnaround to join the Celtics for summer league and begin learning all the new aspects of the NBA. The team has sounded thrilled about the way he has approached the process. Friday represented a continuation of that. Even while adjusting to certain parts of the NBA game, González showed the talent that convinced the Celtics to select him with the 28th pick in June's draft. 'For the summer league team, I would say that what you saw this afternoon is exactly what we're looking for him to do: Pressure the ball, space the floor, be ready to shoot, handle the ball, make plays for others, attack the basket,' said Reynolds. 'I thought his aggression attacking the paint was excellent. Some plays he finished, some plays he didn't. And I think that's going to kind of even out going forward.' Advertisement González's debut was just one small step at the beginning of what could be a long NBA career. He liked one part best. 'We won the game,' González said. 'And that was the main objective, before thinking about individual stats and everything. We won the game and that is what we are here for, so really happy about the team and the performance.'
USA Today
02-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Celtics sign 28th overall pick Hugo González to rookie-scale contract
Spanish guard Hugo González, the 28th pick in the 2025 NBA draft, signed his rookie-scale contract with the Boston Celtics on Tuesday, the team announced. González averaged 3.4 points and 1.8 rebounds on 40.8% shooting from the field with Real Madrid across all competitions in the EuroLeague and Spanish ACB. He scored in double figures five times, including a season-high 14 points and five rebounds on May 30. He will make $2,783,880 next season, according to Spotrac. The 19-year-old has played with Real Madrid over the past three seasons, splitting time between its first and second divisions. He saw sporadic time as the fourth-youngest player to suit up in the Spanish League, though he showed potential when given the chance to log significant minutes. González was considered a possible first-round pick this year, with his defensive versatility and ability to make impact plays. He hasn't yet developed a consistent 3-point shot, converting 28.4% on 1.3 attempts per game this season, but excels in every other offensive area. The 6-foot-7 standout has represented Spain on several occasions at the junior level, most recently at the 2024 FIBA U18 EuroBasket. He debuted with the senior team in February, averaging 10 points and 4.5 rebounds in two appearances during the FIBA EuroBasket 2025 qualifiers. González said Tuesday that he hopes to play with the Celtics in the NBA Summer League, although the team may ultimately decide whether he will participate. They begin their stint on July 11 against the Memphis Grizzlies (4 p.m. EDT, NBA TV).
New York Times
30-06-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Celtics' Hugo González has all the attributes to succeed in NBA
Hugo González only played six minutes during a win against Red Star Belgrade in late March, but it was the importance of those minutes that mattered to Real Madrid teammate Xavier Rathan-Mayes. The former Florida State star, who had a brief stint with the Grizzlies in 2018, believes the road environment Real Madrid encountered that day would have rattled almost any other teenager. Advertisement 'The Serbian environments,' Rathan-Mayes said, 'there's nothing like it in the world. Nothing like it in America compares. This is 25,000 people that are there two hours before the game chanting, (lighting) flares, the whole thing.' The scene did not faze González, who the Celtics drafted with the 28th pick last Wednesday. As Rathan-Mayes recalled, the 6-foot-6 wing drilled a 3-pointer and grabbed a couple of rebounds shortly after checking in midway through the first quarter. At the other end of the court, his intense defense limited Codi Miller-McIntyre, who led Wake Forest in scoring twice while in college and topped the EuroLeague in assists in 2024. Real Madrid outscored Red Star by 10 points with González on the court. 'We were between zone and man-to-man and he was just doing a really, really good job,' Rathan-Mayes said. 'Just high energy, getting deflections, rebounding. Any shot that they missed, he was the guy that was rebounding the ball. And that game was a big, big game for us. It was a game that we needed in EuroLeague to continue our push for the playoffs. And I think after that first quarter he never played again, but the minutes that he had were extremely, extremely impactful.' Why didn't González play again in that game? Rathan-Mayes said rotations aren't as set in Europe as they are in the NBA. On Real Madrid, which was loaded with former NBA players, minutes weren't easy for a young player to come by. Rathan-Mayes estimated that eight players on his team could have played for NBA teams — and played 'really well' — if given the opportunity. Though González didn't always play much, averaging 10.7 minutes per game, Rathan-Mayes said the young wing took advantage when the coaching staff called his number. 'He was a part of a stacked roster,' Rathan-Mayes said of a team that included Facundo Campazzo and Mario Hezonja, among others with NBA experience. 'And obviously he's 19 years old, there's not going to be a ton of playing time for him. I know the kind of American mentality and they look at, 'Oh, he played (10) minutes a game, he averaged (three) points, what are we getting?' And I think the thing to really look at is how he was producing in the games he played. When we played in the ACB (league) and he got 20 or 25 minutes and he played at an extremely high level, man.' Advertisement Behind a long list of established veterans, González did not typically get the chance to play with the ball in his hands. He averaged 3.4 points per game this season and shot 28.4 percent on 3-point attempts. Though Gonzalez's offensive production didn't always sparkle on paper, Rathan-Mayes believes some of his skills should translate to the NBA immediately. 'His ability to get out and transition — he's really, really good in transition,' Rathan-Mayes said. 'He's not a guy that's going to carry the ball full court, but he's one of those guys (that if) you put the ball with him on the wing, in one or two dribbles, he's at the rim finishing. Another thing that he's going to be really good at and that people don't appreciate until you see him in person: He's an elite offensive rebounder at the guard spot. His ability to get to the offensive glass and give a team extra possessions is really special. 'The last thing is just his ability to guard ones, twos and threes. We would put him in the game in EuroLeague and make him guard the best player for five, six minutes and then take him out. And he's 6-7 with long arms, he's athletic. He's just really, really good defensively.' Rathan-Mayes believes González's time on such a competitive roster will benefit him once he joins the Celtics because he understands what a championship pedigree looks like, having been a part of Real Madrid's most recent title last week. While acknowledging González is 'a raw talent,' Rathan-Mayes said, 'he has all the attributes to be a good NBA player and be a surprise that down the road people look back on the pick and they're like, I had no clue (he would be so good). 'It was a very tough situation for him to be in terms of not playing that much,' said Rathan-Mayes. 'But on the flip side, he has an experience unlike probably anybody in that draft from one to 60. His ability to understand being around great players, his ability to understand how to fit in. And I think one of the biggest things is his ability to understand championship culture and what it takes to win is not like many kids in that draft — in any draft. And that's what makes him special. He knows what winning looks like; he sees what winning looks like. If you don't win at Madrid, all hell breaks loose.' Advertisement After selecting González, Brad Stevens said the teenager has 'all the intangibles of a winning basketball player.' Stevens praised González's cutting, toughness, competitiveness and team-first mentality. Rathan-Mayes echoed many of Stevens' thoughts while adding that the Celtics should be a great organizational fit for González. 'He's a kid that has no ego right away coming in and he's going to do whatever it requires for the team to win,' said Rathan-Mayes. 'That being said, it was important for him to go to an organization that can … (allow) him to really develop with no pressure to be this great player right away at 19 years old. And I think in the right scenario, and I think he has that with the Celtics, his ability to come in and just learn and get better and develop … I think you'll see him really flourish. 'The NBA game is a big change to the European game, but he's been around some of the best in the world at all times, every single year. And he has the ability to fit in and be the ultimate role player with no ego. And I think that's really special in what the Celtics organization is and what their culture is.'
Yahoo
30-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Boston Celtics 2025 NBA Draft grades for every pick
The post Boston Celtics 2025 NBA Draft grades for every pick appeared first on ClutchPoints. BOSTON — The Boston Celtics went across the pond during the 2025 NBA Draft, using all of their picks on international players. Although they started with two draft spots, No. 28 and No. 32, Boston traded the latter to the Orlando Magic in return for No. 46 and No. 57 and a pair of future second-rounders. Advertisement Following the conclusion of the draft on Thursday night, the Celtics have amassed 10 second-round picks through 2032, giving them plenty of ammo for a future trade under the new, rigid CBA. But before delving into potential deals that could take place down the line, let's look at what the C's have right now. Here are grades for every one of the Celtics' selections in the 2025 NBA Draft. No. 28 – Hugo González In somewhat of a surprise, the Celtics took small forward Hugo González with the 28th pick. He's the highest first-round selection they've made since 2020, when current Indiana Pacers playoff hero Aaron Nesmith and reigning Sixth Man of the Year Payton Pritchard came to Boston via the 14th and 26th picks, respectively. Advertisement Boston would be thrilled to find similar value with González, who turned 19 in February. The Madrid native never came overseas to play college ball in the United States, as he's been a professional since his official debut with Real Madrid Baloncesto in 2022. Seeing González play for one of the biggest basketball clubs in the world made an impression on Celtics President of Basketball Operations Brad Stevens. '[We] followed his year with a great Real Madrid organization and team closely,' Stevens revealed during a Wednesday night press conference. 'Just a big fan of how he plays. He's tough. He's hard-playing. He cuts. He goes after the ball. He competes, like he's got all the intangibles of a winning basketball player, and there are things he can get better at, just like everybody else at that age, but the competitiveness is at a high level.' Despite González being notably younger than Boston's 2024 draftees —who were both 23 when they heard their name called — Stevens said the Spanish youngster's experience has aged him. González has competed across Europe against seasoned vets and former NBA players since he was 16 years old. Advertisement 'I think he's a young guy, but a little bit of an old soul,' Stevens said. 'He's played with adults for a long time. He's playing on a team full of experienced former NBA players and high, high-level pros from all over the world. This guy has been around it at a high level. Been coached really well. When you talk about years overall, yes, he's young. But years of basketball experience, the things that we think are important, it's probably pretty high.' Real Madrid's 2024-25 roster was packed with ex-NBAers, explaining why González rode the bench and averaged around seven minutes per game over the course of the season. When the 6-foot-6 Spaniard was in, he gave it his all, looking comfortable in the pick-and-roll and using speedy slashes to attack the rim or get open around the basket. His shooting isn't remarkable, but he can continue to work on that when he arrives in Boston. González isn't a draft-and-stash guy, so Celtics fans should see him sooner rather than later. Whether that's in the G League or on the bench remains to be seen, yet the Madridista has no qualms with a slower developmental process. 'It's really clear that he's about the team, and he accepts and is willing to play any role it takes,' Stevens stated. 'That's not a learned trait for everybody that's in the draft because most of these guys have never sat. And with that comes a humility and also an understanding that you've got to invest every day just to take advantage of whatever opportunity you get.' Advertisement Given González's high upside and effort level on both sides of the ball, there's reason for excitement with this pick. However, it could've been prudent for the Celtics to address an area of need (like at the five spot) in the first round rather than go for a player who probably won't make an immediate impact. Grade: B No. 46 – Amari Williams Amari Williams is the first center the Celtics have drafted since 2018, and his basketball career has been all about leaps. The 7-footer grew up in England and lived there for the majority of his life before taking the leap to the NCAA. He spent his first four seasons of college hoops with the Drexel Dragons, going from a bench big to a full-time starter by his junior year. After becoming the three-time CAA Defensive Player of the Year, Williams took another leap. Advertisement For his fifth year, he joined the Kentucky Wildcats in the SEC, a powerhouse conference with much more talent than the CAA. That didn't stop Williams from starting in every game and averaging 10.9 points (on 56.1% shooting), 8.5 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks per outing. The Brit also produced 3.2 assists per game, which was the third-best rate of any center in D-I last year. That certainly caught the eye of Celtics Vice President of Basketball Operations Mike Zarren. 'He's one of the best passing big men in college,' he praised during a Zoom presser. 'He's an elite rebounder, he's a great guy… had a wonderful career at Drexel, and then stepped it up another level at Kentucky. When you meet him, you'll see he's got just an enormous, enormous wingspan, and as you'll see on the court, if you haven't seen already, he's got incredible vision. And those things are just key abilities in the modern NBA, your big guys have to be able to do all sorts of things.' The C's could use a talented center, as they no longer roster 2018 All-Star Kristaps Porzingis after sending him to the Atlanta Hawks. Additionally, Boston big men Al Horford and Luke Kornet are free agents at the moment, leaving just one true center, Neemias Queta. Advertisement Returning Horford and Kornet is a priority for the front office, however, the Celtics must prepare for a future without them. Horford will need to retire soon, Kornet will turn 30 in July, and Queta might not be ready for a full-time starting role. Williams won't be either, but he's a good fit and can learn under Horford and company in the meantime. He's shown he's comfortable with taking big leaps, so his journey from the NCAA to the NBA might not seem as daunting. Grade: A No. 57 – Max Shulga Just two picks before the end of the draft, the Celtics nabbed guard Max Shulga with the 57th pick. Like González and Williams, Shulga has European roots. He was born in Ukraine, spent his teenage years in Spain, and then went to the United States to play for the Utah State Aggies. Advertisement After turning into a starter in Utah, and even teaming up there with Queta for a season, Shulga headed east to spend his last two years of eligibility with the VCU Rams. Entering the transfer portal paid off, as the 23-year-old averaged career-highs across the board during his fifth year with 15 points, 5.9 rebounds, four assists, and 1.8 steals per game. He capped off his college career by leading the Rams to 18 wins in their last 20 games, culminating in a March Madness berth for VCU and A-10 Player of the Year honors for Shulga. 'Max is a tough guy who can handle and shoot and, you know, [has] elite toughness,' Zarren described. 'He he's been all over the world. He moved to Spain when he was 13 to play basketball…He's just a winner.' Advertisement If Shulga has a calling card, it's his shooting. He shot about 44% from the field and 39% from 3-point land over the course of five seasons. Percentages like that, especially from deep, will go far in a Celtics system that prioritizes winning the 3-point battle. While he isn't an elite defender with insane athleticism, there's still room for Shulga in the NBA. Pritchard heard some of the same critiques when he entered the league and he's now a champion with more hardware than most players. Overall, the Celtics don't necessarily need another guard, so Shulga will have to fight to move up the depth chart. He seems capable of doing so, yet Boston could've also tried for a second big man instead. Grade: B- Related: Orlando Magic's Jase Richardson headlines 5 biggest steals of 2025 NBA Draft Round 1 Related: Celtics' Jayson Tatum shares Cooper Flagg photo after NBA Draft
Yahoo
29-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
How experts graded Celtics drafting Hugo González
The Boston Celtics made their first pick of the 2025 NBA Draft and selected Hugo González in the first round at No. 28 on Wednesday night. The 6-foot-6 wing out of Spain will be brought over to Boston by the Celtics rather than be a draft stash, a source told ESPN's Jonathan Givony. González averaged 3.1 points and 1.7 rebounds off the bench with Real Madrid this past season. Advertisement Here's what those around the NBA are saying about the Celtics' first and only pick of Round 1, as well as grades given. New York Post Intense, hard-nosed and physical wing who plays with max effort. He attacks the basket well, but will need to improve significantly from beyond the arc. Grade: C CBS Sports Gonzalez had a big early reputation in the Real Madrid system. He's a big wing with solid size and a high motor and defensive upside, especially on the ball. The defense is the intrigue here as his best offense is in transition. The shooting is the swing skill -- he shot just 29% last year. Boston shoots a lot of threes, so he'll need to show improvement there to really stick with the Celtics. Advertisement Grade: B- Bleacher Report The Celtics now have some runway in front of them. Jayson Tatum's Achilles tear cast a cloud of uncertainty over their 2025-26 campaign and subsequently led to the cost-cutting subtractions of Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porziņģis. Without so much win-now pressure on their shoulders, they just took one of draft's more intriguing developmental projects in Hugo González. Since floor time proved hard to come by for him in Spain, there are mystery-box elements at play here. His motor and physical tools should both translate to the NBA, but there are questions about what kind of shooter and shot-creator he'll become. Advertisement He plays hard enough that it's tempting to wager on him figuring everything out, but if he's a space-killing non-shooter, that will make it far more difficult for him to navigate the NBA. Grade: C+ Yahoo Sports He fits nicely in the Celtics' culture. He plays hard, but is more than a hustler and strong defender. He's a high-motor wing with great defensive tools and a slashing style on offense. If his jumper and handle develop, he could be a versatile two-way starter, though he didn't get a lot of playing time overseas. Grade: A Sports Illustrated Gonzalez saw his stock fall throughout the year after failing to secure consistent playing time at Real Madrid, but a year ago at this time he was considered perhaps the best international player in this class. His motor is elite, as is his versatility on the defensive end. This is a strong buy-low bet for a Celtics team looking for value on affordable contracts. Advertisement Grade: A- The Athletic Sam Vecenie: His quick reaction to what's happening around him is awesome on defense, and I think he can play on that end of the court at an NBA level. Ultimately, it's going to come down to his shooting. Can Gonzalez turn into an NBA shooter? That's the swing skill here, as it is for many teenagers as they turn toward the highest level of competition. Given his work ethic and willingness to be coached, you want to buy into it. There's also just not enough of a track record. I like him as a later first-round pick because if the shooting does come around, he's almost certain to be useful as a rotational wing. Advertisement John Hollinger: Gonzalez isn't good enough yet offensively, but he's a tough defender and a plus athlete at the wing position with a strong frame. If he can figure out the shooting and become a reliable offensive contributor, he has a chance to help the Celtics after Boston's 'gap year.' More Celtics content Read the original article on MassLive.
