While it's only preseason basketball, I've enjoyed being able to watch the Boston Celtics play again. We're one week away from the NBA returning, and the Celtics will kick off the NBA season with a game on the road against the Detroit Pistons. Boston still has two preseason games until the real fun begins, but so far, second-year guard Hugo Gonzalez has looked ready to take on a bigger role this season.
Gonzalez was drafted 28th overall by the Celtics in the 2025 NBA Draft and saw playing time immediately. He appeared in 74 of Boston's games, even earning three starts in his rookie season. His stats weren't the most impressive, only averaging 3.9 points and 3.3 rebounds in 14.6 minutes a game.
While his stats don't look impressive, when Hugo was on the court, you could see the potential he had. His biggest strength last season was his defense and hustle. Defensively, Hugo would hold his own and be disruptive. Almost every game, it would also seem like he would come up with some rebounds or hustle plays, showing off his great motor and nose for the ball.
Offensively, Gonzalez was still a work in progress. You could tell he wasn't the most comfortable with ball-handling, but he'd have moments where his offense looked ok. His shooting was also solid for a rookie, with offense not being his strength, shooting 36% from three on 1.6 attempts.
Entering year 2, Gonzalez's play so far has looked better than last year, signaling his readiness for a bigger role.
Hugo Gonzalez ready for bigger role in sophomore season with Celtics
Through the two Celtics preseason games, Gonzalez has been the player who has surprised me the most. He's still been active on the defensive end, but more importantly, his offense has looked much smoother this year. Hugo scored 15 points in the first game, then scored 17 in the second game.
Scoring-wise, Gonzalez has also been efficient, shooting a combined 11/16 from the field. The biggest surprise so far has been his improved jump shot. From the three-point line, the 20-year-old is shooting a combined 7/10 in these two games. After it was one of the biggest question marks for him, the progress he's made has been great to see.
As great as Gonzalez has looked so far, it is only the preseason, so fans shouldn't expect this type of scoring from the Spanish native when the regular season begins. The first game saw many starters sit, and the second game saw them exit midway through the third. I don't see Hugo keeping up this scoring average, as it's not realistic given the Celtics' pecking order when it comes to scoring.
With that being said, I'm still very excited to see Hugo, as he'll play a valuable role in complementing Jayson Tatum. Gonzalez being able to continue being a consistent shooter and defender will help the Celtics' offense work by forcing defenses not to just leave him.
It will be interesting to see if Gonzalez gets a starting spot, as I think he's a candidate for one of the guard spots, alongside Derrick White. His best reason is his defensive versatility, and if he can keep this offense up, he could very well earn that spot in the starting lineup. One other player to watch for that role is Baylor Scheierman, who has also had a good preseason.
Fans can next watch the Celtics preseason game on Wednesday, October 14, when they host the revamped Charlotte Hornets. For Gonzalez, it's another chance to show fans why they should be all in on a second-year leap.
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