By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Finding form in the 2025-26 NBA Regular Season with the Boston Celtics, 19-year-old Hugo Gonzalez has been more confident on the floor. In three winning efforts since Friday, he averaged 31 minutes per contest, tallying 8.7 points and 9.7 rebounds per game.
After registering six points, 11 rebounds, two blocks, one steal, and one assist to Monday’s win, 103-95, over the Indiana Pacers in TD Garden, the Spanish winger rushed to point to a team effort, at least until being interrupted by Jayson Tatum.
“Anybody could step up. Anybody could be important for us. The only thing that matters is that, always, we got guys that want to get the win over everything. And I’m sure that we got a lot of players that have already done it, a lot of players that are going to take a step in front and they are going to get us wins, which is the most important thing,” said Gonzalez during a postgame media session.
Down the stretch of a series of questions, 27-year-old Tatum made a cameo to ask the Celtics rookie if he was still here, apparently intending to jokingly pick on the Madrid native. “Yeah, I’m still here,” responded Gonzalez, spreading laughter across the room.
Without the six-time All-Star, who is undergoing rehab after an Achilles tendon rupture last May, the team coached by Joe Mazzulla sits third in the Eastern Conference standings on an 18-11 tally.
In addition to Gonzalez, further European contribution against the Pacers went from Portuguese starter Neemias Queta reaching eight points, eight rebounds, and two assists, to Bosnian Luka Garza at six points, nine rebounds, three assists, and one block. Ukrainian Max Shulga and British Amari Williams suited up but did not play.