Boston Celtics rookie Hugo Gonzalez received his first DNP-CD in nine games in Sunday’s win over the LA Clippers. Gonzalez’s absence from Joe Mazzulla’s rotation came as a surprise, considering how impressive the rookie has been in small doses so far this season.
He’s seen his playing time dwindle over the past few weeks, too. Gonzalez has played less than 10 minutes in four of his last six outings for the Cs.
Though his role has shrunk lately, Gonzalez still has Mazzulla’s stamp of approval. He’s made an impression on the Celtics’ coach over the first few months of the season, so much so that Mazzulla couldn’t imagine sending Hugo to the G-League for additional reps.
“I haven’t thought about that, no,” Mazzulla said of possibly assigning Gonzalez to the Maine Celtics via CLNS Media Saturday. “I think he showed and proved through his work ethic, his maturity — but really his defensive instincts, that he can play at this level. And I think that's more valuable than anything at this particular time… He's proven that he can play and can impact winning.”
Hugo Gonzalez's first month as an NBA player has been impressive
The 19-year-old has already made 11 appearances for the Cs, averaging three points and two rebounds in 12.4 minutes per game. One of the larger questions about Hugo heading into the trade, his shooting, has been a non-issue, too. He’s knocked down 45.2% of his attempts from the field and 50% from deep, on a low volume.
Gonzalez’s most impressive attribute has been his sense of the game on the defensive end. He plays with a rare sharpness for a rookie, and of course, has a psychotic motor. The Spaniard has made it abundantly clear that he’ll put his body on the line if it means that he can help the team win.
His early-season run has impressed many fans, especially because of where Boston picked Gonzalez. He fell all the way to the 28th pick in June’s NBA Draft, after being projected as a mid-first-round pick earlier in the draft process.
He spent much of his final season with Real Madrid watching from the sidelines as his older, more experienced teammates led the squad to a European Championship. There simply wasn’t much information out there on Gonzalez before Boston drafted him.
It hasn’t taken Celtics fans long to fall in love with the young, defensive-minded wing, though. His willingness to defend some of the league’s best players, like Jalen Brunson, and hold himself to a high standard, has been admirable, to say the least.