On Wednesday evening, Hugo Gonzalez celebrated his Actual Madrid workforce’s Spanish league championship. Then, at 6am, he obtained the much-anticipated name: the Celtics had been choosing him twenty eighth within the NBA Draft.
“It was an extended evening,” Gonzalez mentioned on Tuesday. “Nevertheless it actually paid off.”
The times solely obtained extra hectic from there for the 19-year-old, who flew to Boston on Monday.
Alongside the Celtics’ two different 2025 NBA draft picks — VCU sharpshooter Max Shulga and Kentucky heart Amari Williams — Gonzalez was formally launched as a Celtic on Tuesday morning.
First, the trio visited the follow facility, the place they met with Brad Stevens and Joe Mazzulla. Gonzalez additionally formally signed his contract with the Celtics, a 4-year, $14.3 million deal.
Shulga and Williams, who’re each more likely to signal two-way contracts, additionally obtained to satisfy their new head coach.
“He’s a really simple man,” Shulga mentioned of Mazzulla. “Says issues how they’re. Doesn’t actually sugarcoat something.”
Shulga has extra perception into the method of creating on the Celtics than the typical rookie; in his freshman season at Utah State, he was teammates with Neemias Queta, who’s coming into his third season on the Celtics.
Queta and Shulga went out to dinner when Shulga labored out with the Celtics a number of weeks in the past, and now, the Ukrainian guard is selecting Queta’s mind on the method. Queta has suggested him to “be a sponge” and attempt to be taught as a lot as potential from his teammates and the teaching employees.
“He mentioned it’s gonna be laborious,” Shulga mentioned. “As a rookie, particularly, it’s gonna be a transition interval.”
After breakfast, the rookies headed to the Huntington YMCA, the place the Celtics unveiled a renovated basketball courtroom — and their new draft class. They addressed the greater than 75 youngsters in attendance and shared their preliminary reflections on what it was like to listen to their names known as.
“Being drafted by the Celtics is a dream come true,” Gonzalez mentioned.
Donning Celtics T-shirts, Gonzalez, Hulga, and Williams participated in drills and competitions for almost an hour. It was the kind of occasion that the Celtics frequently maintain, by which younger gamers spend high quality time with youngsters and area people facilities throughout the Boston space.
Whereas some groups introduce their rookies in a extra formal atmosphere, the Celtics have turned to group occasions to take action as of late.
“I feel it’s at all times necessary realizing you’re taking part in for the town, not only for your self and your teammates, however everybody in the neighborhood,” Williams mentioned. “It’s important to be related and present your appreciation.”
The rookies additionally obtained to satisfy Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown
The Celtics shared images of Gonzalez, Shulga, and Williams assembly the franchise cornerstones, Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown.
Final week, Stevens mentioned that each stars have been frequently rehabbing on the Auerbach Heart, Tatum from his Achilles rupture restore, and Brown from his partially torn meniscus.
Very cool to see that Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown — who’re each rehabbing on the Auerbach Heart — each met the rookies right now
(Photographs through Celtics Instagram) pic.twitter.com/PTGGXXAOHV
— Noa Dalzell (@NoaDalzell) July 1, 2025
“It’s often the time of the 12 months after I don’t see these guys loads,” Stevens mentioned. “They often go and sort of relaxation, and get away, however they’ve each prioritized getting higher and rehabbing, and after an extended season, I respect that about them.”
Neemias Queta, who might be due for a bigger frontcourt function with Luke Kornet and Kristaps Porzingis each already departing this offseason, was additionally on the follow facility.
Shulga and Williams will each be taking part in in Summer season League, which begins on July tenth in Las Vegas. The standing of Gonzalez, who’s just some days faraway from the conclusion of his season with Madrid, has not but been confirmed, although he expressed optimism he’d be a part of the workforce in Las Vegas.
“I hope sure,” Gonzalez mentioned. “I’m fairly enthusiastic about it.”
