TORONTO — In his preseason (and NBA) debut against the Memphis Grizzlies, Boston Celtics rookie Hugo Gonzales got tangled up under the basket with PJ Hall. It was early in the second quarter, and Gonzalez was battling for a rebound. He and Hall wrestled, and the Celtics wing ended up on the floor.
Chris Boucher didn’t like it.
He immediately stepped over, put his hand in Hall’s chest, and the two had some words. Hall shoved Boucher away, and the Celtics big man was pulled back by Baylor Scheierman.
Joe Mazulla talked about appreciate a bump by Chris Boucher saying he loved the mentality. Hugo with the first of his two blocks and Boucher sticks up for him. This is Cs basketball pic.twitter.com/lyIE3RxFM7
— NikNBA🏀 (@NIKNBAYT) October 9, 2025
Boucher has only been in Boston for a few short months, but he’s already eager to stand up for his new teammates.
“For me, it's more like, okay, Hugo's my rookie, and I don't know who you are,” Boucher said in Toronto on Friday morning. “But I know you're not wearing a green jersey. Meaning you're against us. Right? Alright, cool. So, that's what's gonna happen.”
Chris Boucher is ready to be a leader for the Celtics
Despite his short time in Boston, he’s ready to take on that enforcer role.
“Kyle [Lowry] did that for me,” Boucher said. “Serge would have done the same thing for me my first year. So, now that I'm in this position to do that, then I'm doing the same thing. Obviously, I think every team got one of those guys that kind of protect everybody, and if that has to be me, then it is what it is.”
That was the energy Boucher brought to the court all night long in Memphis. He flew round the court, seemingly never running out of steam. At the end of the third quarter, Boucher even sprinted from halfcourt to contest a Santi Aldama fadeaway buzzer-beater.
He ended up crashing into the floor in front of the Celtics’ bench. Assistant coach Tony Dobbins and athletic trainer Paul West helped him up.
This will be Boucher’s ninth season in the NBA. His first away from Toronto since his rookie campaign with the Golden State Warriors, and that year, he only appeared in one regular-season game.
The 32-year-old is shaping up to be a key piece in the Celtics’ rotation, especially with Kristaps Porzingis, Al Horford, and Luke Kornet out of the picture. Neemias Queta, Luka Garza, and Xavier Tillman Sr. are the only other big men on the roster (outside of two-way rookie Amari Williams).
Having his skill set on the court will undoubtedly give them a boost, but having his leadership and intensity could end up being even more important.