Celtics' first-round pick named NBA Summer League disappointment

After the NBA Summer League concluded, the Boston Celtics had a productive outing, finishing with a 4-1 record.

The Celtics' third-year guard Jordan Walsh was the team's standout for the Summer League, as his performance this year made him Boston's all-time Summer League scorer.

This summer wasn't as productive for the Celtics' lone first-round pick in 2025, Hugo Gonzalez. 

Gonzalez was Boston's No. 28 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft out of Real Madrid. At just 19 years old, Gonzalez began playing professional basketball overseas at just 16 years old.

He was most productive for Real Madrid in Liga ACB, playing in 29 games and averaging 5.2 points, 2.5 rebounds, while shooting 56.5% from the field in 14.2 minutes per game.

His first Summer League in the NBA, however, was less impressive, according to The Athletic's John Hollinger.

"The questions about his skill level didn’t exactly vanish with his play in Vegas. Gonzalez repeatedly lost his handle, including one notable turnover when he took a single dribble from a standstill and simultaneously had the ball picked and committed a clear path foul. He finished summer league with as many turnovers (13) as baskets and, in addition to shaky perimeter shooting, only shot 6 of 20 inside the arc," Hollinger said in an article.

As a taller guard, Gonzales came into the NBA pre-draft process as a player who thrives in pick-and-roll situations, but his shooting ability from behind the three-point line (27.1% for Real Madrid last season) and habits of making passes off of one foot were labeled as problems for the 6-foot-6, 205-pound guard.