Welcome to Boston, Hugo Gonzalez!

[cloverleaf]

He's really grown on me, and I'm sorry he won't play in SL.

[itrsteve]

I’m excited for this pickup and hope we get to see him actually play.

[50yrceltsfan]

His minutes and shooting pct for Real Madrid (in a top pro league) as an 18 yr old don't concern me at all, and that experience with the speed and physicality of the pro game is a big plus and could lead to minutes on the Celtics pretty quickly. His highlights show he can hit the 3, good looking release, though his shooting form (mainly legs) needs to be coached up. Overall he looks similar to Christian Braun, all over the court making things happen.

[Hal14]

His minutes and shooting pct for Real Madrid (in a top pro league) as an 18 yr old don't concern me at all, and that experience with the speed and physicality of the pro game is a big plus and could lead to minutes on the Celtics pretty quickly. His highlights show he can hit the 3, good looking release, though his shooting form (mainly legs) needs to be coached up. Overall he looks similar to Christian Braun, all over the court making things happen.

Yeah I think the closest comps are Braun and Josh Hart, if he pans out.

A guy like that coming in off the bench, flying around is a nice piece.

[playa-hater]

Taking a much closer look, I can at least say that his shooting mechanics are solid. That alone won't make him a shooter. But that is certainly the first cornerstone in becoming one

[djFan71]

He's NOT the guy I'm about to compare him too. Or close. I don't think this. But....

Some of his drives with the scooping left or right hand extended arm layups in the highlights reminded me of Jalen Williams in the finals. He was able to drive into contact and make the same type shots - highlights only. Watch the non-highlights and he struggles to finish consistently.

[Hal14]

He's NOT the guy I'm about to compare him too. Or close. I don't think this. But....

Some of his drives with the scooping left or right hand extended arm layups in the highlights reminded me of Jalen Williams in the finals. He was able to drive into contact and make the same type shots - highlights only. Watch the non-highlights and he struggles to finish consistently.

Yeah that would be a high ceiling outcome for him. You never know, anything is possible. Hugo is better at age 19 than Jdub was..

[Hal14]

His shot mechanics look somewhat similar to D-white. I say we lock Hugo in a gym with whoever the coach/trainer is who helped D-white improve his shot so much.

Hell, let's have Hugo watch a bunch of D-white film, watch how he does things on both ends of the floor (the shot blocking, the passing, how he plays of the Jays..) and have D-white mentor him a bit..turn him into a 6'7" D-white

[phincsfan]

His shot mechanics look somewhat similar to D-white. I say we lock Hugo in a gym with whoever the coach/trainer is who helped D-white improve his shot so much.

Hell, let's have Hugo watch a bunch of D-white film, watch how he does things on both ends of the floor (the shot blocking, the passing, how he plays of the Jays..) and have D-white mentor him a bit..turn him into a 6'7" D-white

Agreed.

He'll be fine with reps. He chooses to drive to the basket and that could be what his coaches ask of him. He only gets what 12mpg? I posted earlier, give me that guy who can get to the basket comfortably because shooting can be worked on.

I will say though, if he is comfortable driving than he better work on his free throw shooting. Driving as much as he does and shooting sub 70% is no bueno.

[Hal14]

I will say though, if he is comfortable driving than he better work on his free throw shooting. Driving as much as he does and shooting sub 70% is no bueno.

Not sure where that stat js coming from but per realgm, he shot 75.8% FT this season. Not great but certainly a respectable number for a 18/19 yr old kid, especially considering he got such sporadic playing time so those FTs he was attempting, he wasn't usually in much of a rhythm, was coming in cold off the bench..

The year before was 82% FT and the year before that 83.7%, per realgm.

[phincsfan]

I will say though, if he is comfortable driving than he better work on his free throw shooting. Driving as much as he does and shooting sub 70% is no bueno.

Not sure where that stat js coming from but per realgm, he shot 75.8% FT this season. Not great but certainly a respectable number for a 18/19 yr old kid, especially considering he got such sporadic playing time so those FTs he was attempting, he wasn't usually in much of a rhythm, was coming in cold off the bench..

The year before was 82% FT and the year before that 83.7%, per realgm.

https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/hugo-gonzalez/011649/

Small sample size. My mistake. He's definitely an above 70% shooter. Even better.

[Hal14]

I will say though, if he is comfortable driving than he better work on his free throw shooting. Driving as much as he does and shooting sub 70% is no bueno.

Not sure where that stat js coming from but per realgm, he shot 75.8% FT this season. Not great but certainly a respectable number for a 18/19 yr old kid, especially considering he got such sporadic playing time so those FTs he was attempting, he wasn't usually in much of a rhythm, was coming in cold off the bench..

The year before was 82% FT and the year before that 83.7%, per realgm.

https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/hugo-gonzalez/011649/

Small sample size. My mistake. He's definitely an above 70% shooter. Even better.

No worries..yeah, I find that for g league and overseas players, a lot of sites like basketball reference don't have full season stats so I use RealGM player stats pages for them..

[Gant]

Here's some encouraging statements from Benas Matkevicius, the Celtics’ lead international scout, on Hugo Gonzalez. From an article by Adam Himmelsbach.

“He’s really a true competitor and fans will love him because of that Marcus Smart-type of effort that he just goes out there,” Matkevicius said. “He guards multiple positions and dives on the floor. He just wants the ball more than anybody else.”

González now plays for Real Madrid’s senior team that won the Spanish League by defeating Valencia on Wednesday, the same night the Celtics selected the 19-year-old with the 28th pick.

In the days that followed, the reaction Matkevicius received from people in European basketball circles was loud and unanimous.

“I’ve never received as many messages after a draft as I did the next day from around Europe, from coaches and managers and scouts,” he said. “There were a lot of messages I received that were just like, ‘Man, great pick.’ That was an indicator that usually doesn’t happen, and it happened not only from Spain but from other teams as well. For value, for the range we picked at, we got lucky.”

“He can play around superstars easily,” Matkevicius said. “He can fit in. One thing that always impressed me about him is when he’s playing with the pros and is on the bench or gets subbed out, he’s the loudest guy on the bench and it’s sincere. He’s really cheering for his teammates, really happy. He’s not pouting, expecting playing time. He knows who he is and he’s very self-aware, and that makes him personality-wise a good fit also.”

[Hal14]

Here's some encouraging staements from Benas Matkevicius, the Celtics’ lead international scout, on Hugo Gonzalez. From an article by Adam Himmelsbach.

“He’s really a true competitor and fans will love him because of that Marcus Smart-type of effort that he just goes out there,” Matkevicius said. “He guards multiple positions and dives on the floor. He just wants the ball more than anybody else.”

González now plays for Real Madrid’s senior team that won the Spanish League by defeating Valencia on Wednesday, the same night the Celtics selected the 19-year-old with the 28th pick.

In the days that followed, the reaction Matkevicius received from people in European basketball circles was loud and unanimous.

“I’ve never received as many messages after a draft as I did the next day from around Europe, from coaches and managers and scouts,” he said. “There were a lot of messages I received that were just like, ‘Man, great pick.’ That was an indicator that usually doesn’t happen, and it happened not only from Spain but from other teams as well. For value, for the range we picked at, we got lucky.”

“He can play around superstars easily,” Matkevicius said. “He can fit in. One thing that always impressed me about him is when he’s playing with the pros and is on the bench or gets subbed out, he’s the loudest guy on the bench and it’s sincere. He’s really cheering for his teammates, really happy. He’s not pouting, expecting playing time. He knows who he is and he’s very self-aware, and that makes him personality-wise a good fit also.”

Seems very mature and self aware for a kid who's only 19 (and was just 18 for most of last season).

[Gant]

Scout Antonio Dias of Eurohoops had Hugo Gonzalez 13th on his board. Dias is also a G-league scout.

Lauds Hugo's ability to attack the rim. One of the best Euro guys, just didn't have the opportunity to show that. Some time in the G league is probably happening for him to adapt, but he could play for Boston later in the year. Super competitive.

Reads great off the ball, with little hesitation. Quick decisions. More hesitation on the ball. High IQ.

Quick and high jumper, pretty athletic. On D he picks up his man as far away from basket as he can. So competitive as a defender. He can defend the 3, plus 2 and 4 a bit.

He has huge hands. (me: thats a great thing)

In five years he might become something in between Aaron Gordon and Michael Porter Jr. A high level role player. Shot is developing, which he's working on. Might become 4th, maybe 3rd offensive option by then.

His shooting will hold him back initially. He's in the midst of changing his shot. It'll take time to adjust his mechanics and get comfortable.

If he went to college he probably would have gone a bit higher.

He wasn't supposed to get any minutes for Real Madrid. By the end of the year he did get some minutes, so that's really good.

Watch on YouTube

Dias also reviews Williams and Shulga.


On Williams: Goes into his strengths and makes comparisons to Queta (what each does better than the other).

Defense will be a big issue. With his slow lateral movement, he can't contain quick guards.


On Shulga: Good shooter. Dias was expecting a jump from him, but thought he took a step back.

"Williams and Shulga are second rounders for a reason." "You never know though."

[cloverleaf]

I took it as a subtle dig at Rico when Brad went on about Hugo being used to being a role player, so better prepared to adapt than guys who had been stars in college. Lots of young-guy competition set up now at the wing spot.

[flintsky21]

Is his ballhandling good enough to potentially develop as a point? You can mask his lack of shooting better in that position ala Josh Giddey.

[Smart2Nesmith43]

In five years, we're all going to wonder why ____ fell in the draft?

Givony: Hugo Gonzalez to the Boston Celtics at No. 28. I had him rated as the No. 15 player on my personal big board, 13 spots ahead of where he was drafted. He started the process as a projected top-10 pick, but it's not hard to understand why his stock fell, as he struggled to get on the floor for a loaded Real Madrid team. Had Gonzalez played for Ratiopharm Ulm, went to BYU (which recruited him heavily prior to signing Demin), or spent a season with the NBL Next Stars program in Australia ... he would have been a clear lottery pick in my view.

He built an impeccable résumé as one of the top prospects in international basketball in FIBA youth competitions and junior club competition prior to this season.

I also love his fit in Boston, where he's certain to emerge as a fan favorite due to the frenetic intensity level he brings defensively. I was told Boston was telling agents it planned to sign whichever rookie it took with this pick for 80% of the rookie scale, but due to Gonzalez's significant buyout with Real Madrid ($1.4 million), that won't be viable, as Gonzalez will already need to cover a significant portion of that out of his pocket.

https://www.espn.co.uk/nba/story/_/id/45591220/2025-nba-draft-recap-value-picks-risky-moves-rookie-year-awards-predictions

Interesting tidbit that shows how much more the Celtics valued Hugo than others prospects in that range. Not enthused about the attempted nickel and diming of rookies. I understand trying to trim payroll but that's not the way to do it and it's an awful look. Starting to get Sarver vibes from the new owner.

[Gant]

In five years, we're all going to wonder why ____ fell in the draft?

Givony: Hugo Gonzalez to the Boston Celtics at No. 28. I had him rated as the No. 15 player on my personal big board, 13 spots ahead of where he was drafted. He started the process as a projected top-10 pick, but it's not hard to understand why his stock fell, as he struggled to get on the floor for a loaded Real Madrid team. Had Gonzalez played for Ratiopharm Ulm, went to BYU (which recruited him heavily prior to signing Demin), or spent a season with the NBL Next Stars program in Australia ... he would have been a clear lottery pick in my view.

He built an impeccable résumé as one of the top prospects in international basketball in FIBA youth competitions and junior club competition prior to this season.

I also love his fit in Boston, where he's certain to emerge as a fan favorite due to the frenetic intensity level he brings defensively. I was told Boston was telling agents it planned to sign whichever rookie it took with this pick for 80% of the rookie scale, but due to Gonzalez's significant buyout with Real Madrid ($1.4 million), that won't be viable, as Gonzalez will already need to cover a significant portion of that out of his pocket.

https://www.espn.co.uk/nba/story/_/id/45591220/2025-nba-draft-recap-value-picks-risky-moves-rookie-year-awards-predictions

Interesting tidbit that shows how much more the Celtics valued Hugo than others prospects in that range. Not enthused about the attempted nickel and diming of rookies. I understand trying to trim payroll but that's not the way to do it and it's an awful look. Starting to get Sarver vibes from the new owner.

That's a good conclusion as to how much they valued Hugo.

The other part could also be interpreted as Brad Stevens saving every dollar he can to channel to Kornet and Horford. He wants to keep both guys.

[Justin33]

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