Celtics' Hugo Gonzalez might be too good for Summer League

Boston Celtics wing Hugo Gonzalez has impressed through the team’s first four games at the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas. Boston has won all three matchups where he suited up and it’s clear that the 20-year-old’s widespread impact makes a difference for them.

Said impact was impossible to not notice in the Celtics’ 82-76 win over the Sacramento Kings. Gonzalez logged a double-double with 24 points, 10 rebounds, five assists, and a steal, while shooting 8-18 from the field and 3-9 from deep.

“We’re not asking him to do anything that I don't think he can do every time he steps foot on the court,” Celtics Summer League head coach Amile Jefferson told reporters on Wednesday. “He showed why he’s a really talented young player.”

Gonzalez’s role has expanded with this summer squad and he’s serving as the group’s primary ballhandler for just about every offensive trip when he’s on the floor. It was rare to see Hugo with the ball in his hands for more than a second or two in his rookie season. He was mostly tasked with filling space without the rock and causing chaos on the defensive end.

Even with the added responsibility, it’s beginning to feel like the second-year wing might be too good for Summer League.

Thus far, he’s averaged 18.3 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 5.7 assists per game in Vegas.

Hugo Gonzalez is thriving in an increased role for the Summer Celtics

Hugo’s filled the statsheet and often been the best player on the floor, yet still hasn’t shot the ball super well.

Gonzalez looks comfortable putting the ball on the floor, scoring from multiple levels, and setting his teammates up with good looks. There’s more creativity in his game, too. Last year at this point, he was spamming euro-steps every on every single drive -- although all of Hugo’s steps are technically “Euro Steps.”

This time around, his at-rim moves have been far more diverse. He’s embracing contact, too. Gonzalez has averaged five free-throw attempts per outing, and that’s with the NBA only awarding one shot for each foul, instead of the regular two or three, depending on the value of the shot where the foul occurred.

Even with his 31.8%/25.9% shooting splits, he’s found a way to force the issue. The efficiency, by the way, should be taken with a grain of salt because Hugo’s shot profile is far more difficult than it’d typically be in his typical role.

More than anything, his overall consistency in the non-scoring categories has to be the biggest reason to be excited. Those are the things he’ll be asked to do once the regular season rolls around; play defense, rebound, take open shots with confidence.

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