In today’s NBA, we have seen more teenagers come into the NBA, sometimes playing against players double their age.<\/p>\n
Hugo Gonzalez is one of those players, and the Celtics<\/a> took a gamble on the international prospect, drafting him late in the first round of last year’s draft.<\/p>\n It seemed like a decision that went against the grain of what Boston should have done, but it may pay off long-term for them.<\/p>\n Is Celtics’ Hugo Gonzalez Really Worth All the Hype?<\/p>\n Not all fans are ready to buy their tickets on the Hugo Gonzalez train, as it’s a little bit early to be convinced he’ll pan out the way the Celtics might think he will.<\/p>\n If it wasn’t clear they believed in him last season, they made it as clear as they could this summer, not including him in any trade discussions, even when they were for superstar-level players.<\/p>\n MORE:\u00a0Former Celtic Jaylen Brown ‘Offended’ by His New NBA 2K27 Rating<\/a><\/p>\n The departure of Jaylen Brown opens up more minutes and opportunities for some of the Celtics’ younger players, with Gonzalez being towards the top of the list of players who will get more chances to shine.<\/p>\n Even in this past season, the then 19-year-old rose to the occasion when he was inserted in key\/late-game clutch moments, notably hitting a game-saving shot against the Nets that helped them eventually win that game.<\/p>\n Scoring is important in today’s NBA, but Gonzalez stands out in several other areas before you even look at his shot.<\/p>\n Gonzalez’s best trait is his hustle and competitiveness on the floor, as he’s an instant energy guy off Boston’s bench and has the capability to turn the momentum of a game around.<\/p>\n MORE:\u00a0Former Celtic Says Kyrie Irving Would\u2019ve Been Better Than Michael Jordan Under One Condition<\/a><\/p>\n You can trust he’ll want to defend everyone and anyone, and he doesn’t fear any player. That’s a heck of a trait to have this early in his career and at this young of an age.<\/p>\n His average plus-minus last season was +3.3, with a +246 total plus-minus for the entire season, displaying he’s making his mark when he checks in a game.<\/p>\n His stats from last season don’t tell the entire picture. Based on Gonzalez’s position and traits, some may see him as the Celtics’ next Marcus Smart.<\/p>\n Smart himself started slowly in his rookie season, and slowly built a role for himself with the Celtics that got bigger season after season.<\/p>\n MORE:\u00a0Celtics’ 2026-27 Season Is the Most Important of the Jayson Tatum Era<\/a><\/p>\n Smart had a lot more hype around him out of college and entering the draft, but Gonzalez could follow in Smart’s shoes, achieving something similar.<\/p>\n With Payton Pritchard and Derrick White as the likely duo of guards in Boston’s starting lineup, Gonzalez will come off the bench, but that doesn’t mean it will be that way forever.<\/p>\n Joe Mazzulla likes to run various lineups to get a feel for what combinations work, so Gonzalez’s role could become larger at times when he’s needed to step up.<\/p>\n