Through 21 games into his NBA career, Hugo Gonzalez has already shown he’s not just another rookie learning the ropes - he’s helping the Celtics win basketball games. And while the sample size is still small, the impact is hard to ignore.
Let’s start with the numbers. According to PBP Stats, Boston’s net rating improves by nearly nine points per 100 possessions when Gonzalez is on the floor.
That’s not a coincidence. In just 247 minutes of action, Gonzalez has carved out a role by doing the little things that don’t always show up in the box score - but definitely show up in the win column.
The biggest area where Gonzalez has made his mark? Defense.
Flat out. When he’s on the bench, the Celtics are giving up 118.1 points per 100 possessions.
When he’s on the court, that number drops to 110.6. That’s a significant swing for a team with championship aspirations.
And it’s not just about schemes or rotations - it’s about effort. Gonzalez brings it every possession.
You see it in plays like this one: Tyus Jones tries to thread a pass to Franz Wagner, but Gonzalez reads it, beats Wagner to the ball, and turns it into an extra possession. That hustle led directly to an Anfernee Simons three. It’s the kind of sequence that doesn’t make highlight reels but changes the momentum of a game.
That’s how Gonzalez is staying on the floor - by making hustle plays, applying pressure full-court, and showing a defensive motor that’s rare for a rookie. He’s already being trusted with tough assignments, and he’s holding his own.
Take Boston’s win over the Knicks on December 2. Gonzalez spent time guarding both Karl-Anthony Towns and Jalen Brunson - two very different offensive threats - and made life difficult for both.
Against Brunson, he stayed disciplined, got his hands in without fouling, and forced a clean strip that led to an easy Celtics bucket. On another possession, he cut off a KAT drive, funneled him into Payton Pritchard, and helped create a turnover that turned into a three-point play.
That kind of versatility - switching from a physical big like Towns to a shifty guard like Brunson - is what every team wants in a modern wing defender. Gonzalez isn’t locking down one through five just yet, but he’s showing flashes that he might get there. And the Celtics are clearly comfortable testing those waters.
After a recent practice, Gonzalez talked about the different roles he’s being asked to play - including time at center, like in the loss to Detroit. His mindset?
Attack mismatches, space the floor, and stay ready. “Try to get advantages of my ability against the big man,” he said.
“If we got him at the rim and he has to close out, we get a lot of looks at the rim.”
That adaptability is key, especially in Joe Mazzulla’s system, where players are expected to be ready for wrinkles and adjustments on the fly. Gonzalez noted that the Celtics coaching staff does a great job preparing the team for those moments. “We practice it, we make sure that everything is alright and whenever we feel ready, we do it,” he said.
Offensively, Gonzalez hasn’t made a huge splash yet - but there are encouraging signs. He’s knocking down his corner threes at a 57% clip.
Yes, it’s only 4-for-7, so we’re not crowning him a sharpshooter just yet. But he’s also 7-for-16 on above-the-break threes, and that’s not nothing.
For a rookie known more for his defense, showing even a hint of shooting consistency is a big deal.
So no, Hugo Gonzalez isn’t lighting up the scoreboard. He’s not the focal point of Boston’s offense.
But he’s doing the dirty work, hitting open shots, and giving the Celtics real value on the defensive end. That’s how rookies earn minutes on contending teams - and Gonzalez is doing just that.
The Celtics didn’t need Gonzalez to be a star right away. They needed him to be solid, smart, and relentless. And so far, he’s checked every one of those boxes.