On Wednesday night time, Hugo Gonzalez celebrated his Actual Madrid group’s Spanish league championship. Then, at 6am, he received the much-anticipated name: the Celtics had been choosing him twenty eighth within the NBA Draft.
“It was an extended night time,” Gonzalez stated on Tuesday. “Nevertheless it actually paid off.”
The times solely received 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 prone to signal two-way contracts, additionally received to fulfill their new head coach.
“He’s a really easy man,” Shulga stated of Mazzulla. “Says issues how they’re. Doesn’t actually sugarcoat something.”
Shulga has extra perception into the method of growing on the Celtics than the typical rookie; in his freshman season at Utah State, he was teammates with Neemias Queta, who’s getting into his third season on the Celtics.
Queta and Shulga went out to dinner when Shulga labored out with the Celtics a couple of weeks in the past, and now, the Ukrainian guard is choosing Queta’s mind on the method. Queta has suggested him to “be a sponge” and attempt to study as a lot as attainable from his teammates and the teaching workers.
“He stated it’s gonna be arduous,” Shulga stated. “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 court docket — and their new draft class. They addressed the greater than 75 children in attendance and shared their preliminary reflections on what it was like to listen to their names referred to as.
“Being drafted by the Celtics is a dream come true,” Gonzalez stated.
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 usually maintain, by which younger gamers spend high quality time with children and local 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 figuring out you’re taking part in for town, not only for your self and your teammates, however everybody locally,” Williams stated. “It’s important to be linked and present your appreciation.”
The rookies additionally received to fulfill Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown
The Celtics shared photographs of Gonzalez, Shulga, and Williams assembly the franchise cornerstones, Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown.
Final week, Stevens stated that each stars have been usually rehabbing on the Auerbach Middle, 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 Middle — each met the rookies as we speak
(Images 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 stated. “They often go and type of relaxation, and get away, however they’ve each prioritized getting higher and rehabbing, and after an extended season, I recognize that about them.”
Neemias Queta, who may very well 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 only a few 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 group in Las Vegas.
“I hope sure,” Gonzalez stated. “I’m fairly enthusiastic about it.”
