Celtics Rookie Hugo Gonzalez Learning on the Fly After Tough Stretch vs. Pistons
Hugo Gonzalez showed up to Celtics practice on Wednesday with a noticeable scratch on his neck - the kind you earn in a physical workout, not a scuffle. But if you watched Boston’s loss to the Pistons on Monday night, you know that wasn’t the only mark he carried into the gym. The 19-year-old rookie had a rough stretch late in the third quarter, and it cost him the rest of the night on the floor.
With just under 34 seconds left in the third, Gonzalez checked in for Anfernee Simons as head coach Joe Mazzulla rolled out an all-wings lineup - a look we hadn’t seen before. Joining Gonzalez were Jaylen Brown, Jordan Walsh, Baylor Scheierman, and Josh Minott.
No traditional point guards. And in that moment, the rookie was tasked with bringing the ball up the floor.
It didn’t go well.
Detroit’s Jaden Ivey had just scored on Gonzalez off a sideline out-of-bounds play, and on the very next possession, Caris LeVert picked his pocket just past halfcourt and took it the other way for a fast-break dunk. Two plays, two costly mistakes. Gonzalez didn’t see the floor again that night.
“That wasn’t a great sequence,” Gonzalez admitted after practice. “It was really tough to have it, and even tougher to see it again (on film). But you’ve got to learn from that and move forward.”
And that’s exactly what the Celtics are hoping for - growth. Because despite that moment, Gonzalez has shown plenty of promise early in his NBA journey.
Mazzulla didn’t sugarcoat the mistakes, but he also acknowledged the situation wasn’t ideal. Taking out Simons and replacing him with Gonzalez left Boston with just one true ball-handler on the floor in Jaylen Brown. That’s a tough ask for any rookie, let alone one who’s still adjusting to the speed and complexity of the NBA game.
“I mean, losing the ball at halfcourt, that’s a tough one,” Mazzulla said. “You have to learn how to handle the ball, obviously.
But we take Ant out for Hugo on the last possession of the quarter, knowing we’re getting the ball back, and so you only have one ball-handler on the court in Jaylen and everyone else isn’t one. So that’s a little bit of a tough situation.
As you grow, you just can’t allow that to happen.”
But Mazzulla’s message wasn’t just about ball security. It was about identity - knowing your role, and executing it, no matter when you’re called upon.
“Coming in on a defensive possession, it’s about having a clear understanding that your role is to be a great defender,” Mazzulla said. “Whether it’s the start of the game or you’re stepping in late in the quarter, that doesn’t change. We worked on that today, and those guys, they want to get better.”
That desire to improve is something Gonzalez has brought with him since Day 1. A product of Real Madrid’s storied basketball program, he’s earned his minutes this season with aggressive defense, high energy, and a willingness to do the dirty work. He’s not just logging garbage time - he’s part of the rotation.
And he’s not going through it alone. After the sequence against Detroit, veteran guard Derrick White had a quiet word with Gonzalez on the bench - a reminder that these moments, while painful, are part of the process.
“Stay with it,” White said of his message. “Obviously, he’s hard on himself and (had) a tough couple of possessions, but it’s a long season, long game. Just understand it’s going to be those ups and downs, and just know that I’ve been there and just trying to have his back.”
That kind of support means something, especially coming from a player like White - a steadying presence in the Celtics’ backcourt and a respected voice in the locker room.
“It means a lot,” Gonzalez said. “A player like Derrick is an incredible player and also an incredible person.
Really great teammate, always looking for the guys next to him, and especially me - he has helped me a lot. And those type of moments, they just show the type of person and the type of player he is on and off the court.”
Despite the hiccup, Gonzalez’s early-season body of work speaks for itself. He’s the first Celtics rookie to earn consistent playing time since Payton Pritchard and Aaron Nesmith back in 2020-21, appearing in 21 of Boston’s 26 games so far. He’s been part of the rotation in each of the last seven and currently ranks second on the team in individual net rating - trailing only starting center Neemias Queta.
In that loss to Detroit, Gonzalez still managed to contribute five points and five rebounds in 16 minutes, finishing with a +9 in the box score. That’s the kind of impact that doesn’t go unnoticed, even when the final score doesn’t go your way.
The scratch on his neck? That came from a hard-nosed Celtics practice - a sign that the team is pushing, and Gonzalez is right in the thick of it. He’ll look to bounce back Friday night when Boston hosts the Miami Heat at TD Garden.
“Everybody makes mistakes,” Gonzalez said. “I’ve just got to try to make less mistakes as I can. That’s my objective.”
It’s a rookie’s mindset - humble, hungry, and grounded in the work. And if Gonzalez keeps stacking those lessons, one tough sequence won’t define him. It’ll just be part of the story.