By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
After serving as a defensive specialist during his first NBA campaign, 20-year-old Spanish shooting guard Hugo Gonzalez has set his sights on an upgraded status in the Boston Celtics rotation.
Across 78 appearances in his rookie season, the Madrid native averaged 3.7 points and 3.2 rebounds per contest. Earning most of his minutes off the bench, his impact was largely limited to garbage time, especially down the stretch of an up-and-down journey. However, his current trajectory points to a far larger role in the 2026–27 Regular Season.
The young wing has unlocked a new tier to his game during the Preseason 2026. Over two matchups, he has leveled up to average 16.0 points while shooting 11-of-16 from the floor and 7-of-10 from deep. “We got a great system where everybody can get an opportunity to impact the game offensively,” he mentioned after team practice on Monday, attributing his growth to Boston’s structure. “I know my first job is to be a great defender and to try to guard the best players on the other team. Whatever comes from there, it just comes because we got a great staff and great players that know how to make big-time plays.”
The former Real Madrid player in the EuroLeague and Liga Endesa’s progression stems from mastering split-second choices. “When you’re in the game, and you got to take decisions in half a second, you got more experience taking real-life decisions than when you’re in a play,” he explained. “Playing off those reads or playing off those points, where you’re in a little bit of chaos, that just makes you feel in the game like you are already in that environment.”
Gonzalez supports a diverse European roster that includes Luka Garza, Neemias Queta, Amari Williams, and rookie Milos Uzan. As the C’s conclude exhibition play against the Charlotte Hornets in TD Garden on Wednesday and the Philadelphia 76ers in Xfinity Mobile Arena on Friday, the Spaniard is looking for an upgraded role when the Regular Season starts next Tuesday opposite the Detroit Pistons in Little Caesars Arena.
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