When the Celtics drafted Hugo Gonzalez at 28th overall, part of the initial scouting report was that he didn’t play much at Real Madrid. That’s not exactly surprising considering teenagers normally don’t get as many opportunities playing for a loaded roster that features greats and former NBA players.
But put in another way, Celtics president Brad Stevens pointed out the lack of playing time can be spun into a different angle. Instead of some college draft prospects who saw heavy minutes throughout their careers, Gonzalez had to earn his way onto the court. That’s a distinctive, notable trait — plus, Gonzalez knows what it means to play for a franchise like the Celtics considering Real Madrid operates at a similarly high standard.
“When you put on a Real Madrid jersey, you put on the responsibility similar to here,” Stevens said after draft night. “And I think that that’s a good thing. When we interviewed Hugo a couple weeks ago on Zoom, it’s really clear that he’s about the team and he accepts and is willing to play any role it takes. That’s not an earned 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 gotta invest every day just to take advantage of whatever opportunity you get.”
Gonzalez, 19, flew to Boston quickly after the draft as he gets acclimated to his new home. It’s unclear yet if he’ll play in Summer League in Las Vegas, though recent practice footage from the team has him participating with the team. The other two Celtics draft picks, Anton Williams and Max Shulga, are expected to play in Summer League.
The Celtics are in a transition phase this offseason as they’ve made significant trades to slim payroll. They’re unlikely to compete next season considering Jayson Tatum continues to rehab his ruptured Achilles tendon. Despite all those changes, the front office saw enough in Gonzalez to land him near the end of the first round.
All the attention on the Celtics this summer has been on what moves they’ll make with the roster, and rightfully so. But soon all eyes will be on Summer League as fans will hopefully see Gonzalez and the other rookies suiting up in Vegas.
“Playing for Real Madrid Academy since I was 10, it was almost like playing for a team that winning was a must every year for every title,” Gonzalez said. “So I’m pretty used to team success. 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.”
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