The Boston Celtics are off to a strong start this season, and while the spotlight often shines brightest on the stars, it’s the bench that’s quietly fueling this early surge. Two names in particular-Luka Garza and rookie Hugo Gonzalez-have emerged as key contributors, bringing energy, toughness, and timely production that’s been impossible to ignore.
In back-to-back wins over the Toronto Raptors and Indiana Pacers, Garza and Gonzalez didn’t just fill minutes-they changed the tone of the game. Garza, known for his physical presence and relentless motor, has carved out a niche as a dependable big off the bench.
He’s not just eating up minutes-he’s making them count. Whether it’s setting hard screens, battling on the boards, or finishing through contact, Garza’s impact has been felt every time he steps on the floor.
Gonzalez, meanwhile, is showing poise beyond his years. The rookie forward has flashed the kind of versatility and defensive awareness that coaches dream about.
He’s flying around on closeouts, making smart reads, and contributing on both ends without forcing the issue. For a first-year player, that’s no small feat-especially on a team with championship aspirations.
Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla made it clear after the win over Indiana that this kind of depth is exactly what Boston will need to sustain a high level of play through the grind of an 82-game season.
“That’s part of the depth that we have,” Mazzulla said. “The season’s long. The standard that we have to play at, the effort that we have to play at, is hard, it’s difficult.”
He’s right. Winning in the NBA isn’t just about your top five-it’s about what happens when the starters sit. And right now, the Celtics are getting meaningful contributions from their reserves.
Mazzulla also pointed to another under-the-radar contributor: Anfernee Simons. While Garza and Gonzalez have drawn attention lately, Simons has quietly been stringing together strong performances. His scoring bursts have helped stabilize the second unit, and his growth on the defensive end hasn’t gone unnoticed by the coaching staff.
“Ant has been really good for us in the last couple of games,” Mazzulla noted. “He gets put under the radar a little bit, but I thought some of his scoring stretch tonight, and where he’s grown defensively, helped that unit as well.”
What makes this Celtics team dangerous isn’t just their top-end talent-it’s the fact that on any given night, someone from the bench can step up and swing the momentum. That kind of depth doesn’t just win you games in December-it builds the foundation for a deep playoff run come spring.
So whether it’s Garza battling in the paint, Gonzalez making winning plays, or Simons catching fire off the dribble, Boston’s bench is doing exactly what it needs to: staying ready, staying connected, and giving this team a real edge.