Jordan Walsh shares strong first impression of Hugo Gonzalez originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston
Hugo Gonzalez, the Boston Celtics’ first-round pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, has already made his presence felt with his new team.
Gonzalez is working out with the Celtics in preparation for NBA Summer League, which is scheduled to begin Friday in Las Vegas. The 19-year-old has looked the part in practice, according to his teammate Jordan Walsh.
“He plays hard. Really hard,” Walsh said. “Fans are gonna love that. He plays hard, he dives on the floor, he’s a defensive menace, and he attacks the rim with force. I think everyone knows that, but this is my first time seeing him play and being able to watch it and go against it. He got me one time. It’s been cool.”
The Celtics drafted Gonzalez out of Spain with the 28th overall pick. The 6-foot-7 wing averaged 5.2 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 0.9 assists in 14.2 minutes per game last season with Real Madrid. Although those numbers don’t jump off the page, Gonzalez’s upside is evident to those who have watched him take the court.
As for adjusting from playing overseas to joining one of the NBA’s most iconic franchises, that shouldn’t be a problem.
“For me, playing for the Madrid Academy since I was 10 (years old), I was almost like playing for a team where winning was a must every year, winning every title,” Gonzalez told reporters last week.
“So (I’m) pretty used to the 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 got in my DNA.”
Gonzalez will be joined by fellow 2025 draft picks Amari Williams and Max Shulga on the Celtics’ Summer League roster. Check out the full Summer League roster and schedule below:
Celtics Summer League roster
- Baylor Scheierman (entering second season)
- Jordan Walsh (entering third season)
- Miles Norris (two-way player)
- Hugo Gonzalez (first-round pick)
- Amari Williams (second-round pick)
- Max Shulga (second-round pick)
- Aaron Scott (undrafted rookie)
- Ben Gregg (undrafted rookie)
- Zach Hicks (undrafted rookie)
- Hayden Gray (undrafted rookie)
- Kenneth Lofton Jr. (entering third NBA season)
- Jalen Bridges (entering second NBA season)
- Kendall Brown (entering fourth NBA season)
- Isaiah Wong (entering third NBA season)
Celtics Summer League schedule
The first four games will air on NBC Sports Boston. Here’s how to watch.
- Friday, July 11: Celtics vs. Grizzlies, 4 p.m. ET
- Sunday, July 13: Celtics vs. Knicks, 5:30 p.m. ET*
- Monday, July 14: Celtics vs. Heat, 8 p.m. ET
- Thursday, July 17: Celtics vs. Lakers, 9 p.m. ET
- Game 5 TBD: Celtics vs. TBD
*Will air around 8 p.m. ET after Connecticut Sun play the Los Angeles Sparks.
Jordan Walsh shares strong first impression of Hugo Gonzalez
“He plays hard. Really hard.”
Hugo Gonzalez, the Boston Celtics’ first-round pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, has already made his presence felt with his new team.
Gonzalez is working out with the Celtics in preparation for NBA Summer League, which is scheduled to begin Friday in Las Vegas. The 19-year-old has looked the part in practice, according to his teammate Jordan Walsh.
“He plays hard. Really hard,” Walsh said. “Fans are gonna love that. He plays hard, he dives on the floor, he’s a defensive menace, and he attacks the rim with force. I think everyone knows that, but this is my first time seeing him play and being able to watch it and go against it. He got me one time. It’s been cool.”
SIGN UP HERE The Celtics drafted Gonzalez out of Spain with the 28th overall pick. The 6-foot-7 wing averaged 5.2 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 0.9 assists in 14.2 minutes per game last season with Real Madrid. Although those numbers don’t jump off the page, Gonzalez’s upside is evident to those who have watched him take the court.
As for adjusting from playing overseas to joining one of the NBA’s most iconic franchises, that shouldn’t be a problem.
“For me, playing for the Madrid Academy since I was 10 (years old), I was almost like playing for a team where winning was a must every year, winning every title,” Gonzalez told reporters last week.
“So (I’m) pretty used to the 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 got in my DNA.”
Gonzalez will be joined by fellow 2025 draft picks Amari Williams and Max Shulga on the Celtics’ Summer League roster. Check out the full Summer League roster and schedule below:
Celtics Summer League roster
- Baylor Scheierman (entering second season)
- Jordan Walsh (entering third season)
- Miles Norris (two-way player)
- Hugo Gonzalez (first-round pick)
- Amari Williams (second-round pick)
- Max Shulga (second-round pick)
- Aaron Scott (undrafted rookie)
- Ben Gregg (undrafted rookie)
- Zach Hicks (undrafted rookie)
- Hayden Gray (undrafted rookie)
- Kenneth Lofton Jr. (entering third NBA season)
- Jalen Bridges (entering second NBA season)
- Kendall Brown (entering fourth NBA season)
- Isaiah Wong (entering third NBA season)
Celtics Summer League schedule
The first four games will air on NBC Sports Boston. Here’s how to watch.
- Friday, July 11: Celtics vs. Grizzlies, 4 p.m. ET
- Sunday, July 13: Celtics vs. Knicks, 5:30 p.m. ET*
- Monday, July 14: Celtics vs. Heat, 8 p.m. ET
- Thursday, July 17: Celtics vs. Lakers, 9 p.m. ET
- Game 5 TBD: Celtics vs. TBD
*Will air around 8 p.m. ET after Connecticut Sun play the Los Angeles Sparks.
