I might caveat every single thing I write related to preseason basketball with, ‘I get it, it’s preseason.’
It’s important to keep that context in mind when watching any type of preseason action in any sport. The way exhibition games are utilized team-to-team varies - some do anything to win, and some are just using the live game action against a different team to try out some things.
But Wednesday night’s performance in Memphis for rookie Hugo Gonzalez felt different.
He certainly wasn’t the best player on the floor during the Celtics’ decisive 121-103 win. But for a stretch in the second half, the 2025 first round pick showed why he was worthy of the 28th overall selection.
First and foremost, there was the deflection that led to the transition dunk:
Then there was the blocks, putting those freakishly huge hands to use:
On the night, Gonzalez finished with eight points, three rebounds, an assist, a steal, and his aforementioned team-high three blocks.
I get it, it’s preseason.
But if you actually spent the time to watch the game on Wednesday night (i.e. basketball diehards and dudes who love betting on sports), I think the eye test would tell you that this is a guy who was moving like someone who will have an impact on regular season games. It’s hard to describe unless you watched the game.
The best way I’d put it is this - the way it looked when Jaylen Brown and Derrick White were out there, where both players looked overqualified to be taking part in preseason action, that’s what it felt like when Gonzalez was out there, too.
Does Boston need to brace itself for ‘Hugo Mania’ this fall?
Like any other great sports town, we love when a kid comes in and puts on a show from the jump. Think about how excited the region got earlier this year for the success of Roman Anthony with the Red Sox, or the types of conversations being had in your group chats about the Patriots because of second-year quarterback Drake Maye. When a young player comes in and has success, there are few things more exciting for a fanbase - the mind starts racing, thinking about what the future could hold.
Gonzalez is 19 years old, and already has four years of professional basketball under his belt playing for Real Madrid in Spain. While the NBA is a different animal, I don’t think the 6-foot-6 swingman is going to be intimidated from the jump like other young players of his age might be.
Oct 8, 2025; Memphis, Tennessee, USA; Boston Celtics guard Hugo Gonzalez (28) drives to the basket as Memphis Grizzlies forward Jaylen Wells (0) defends during the second quarter at FedExForum. (Petre Thomas/Imagn Images)“I felt good,” Gonzalez said after the win. “We got the win. That's the most important thing. We were playing good basketball today.
“We were trying to make the things that we're doing in practice, a couple of things that we've been practicing a lot. Happy because it's the first win, but it’s still preseason, still need to figure out a lot of things.”
Celtics are traveling on Thursday, and resume their preseason on Friday with a game at Toronto.
Tip-off against the Raptors is set for 7:00 p.m. ET.
Tom Carroll is a contributor for Roundtable, with boots-on-the-ground coverage of all things Boston sports. He's a senior digital content producer for WEEI.com, and a native of Lincoln, RI.