Boston’s first-round pick, Hugo González from Real Madrid, had his first NBA Media Day, where he sat down with NBC Sports Boston’s Kayla Burton, Marc D’Amico and Drew Carter.
Although González is a 19-year-old rookie, he brings a lot of professional experience to the Celtics, having been with Real Madrid since he was a kid. He spoke about how playing with former NBA players that will benefit him this year.
“I got a lot of luck that I played with a ton of players who played in the NBA, [Serge] Ibaka,
Mario Hezonja, Rudy Fernández played in the NBA. Last year was incredible for me, got like 10 players that are ex-NBA players. It was almost like a rookie year,” González said. “Obviously it’s different also, adjusting to different basketball is different than playing at Real Madrid. But I think that plays to my advantage to have played with NBA-caliber players like NBA-level most of them. Having that transition like pre-step to the NBA was good for me.”
González was quick to correct Drew Carter when Carter said, “Real Madrid was one of the best” teams in Europe, making sure to tell him they are the “best.”
Unlike in America where players play on different high school and AAU teams before going to college, in Europe players can be signed as kids to professional teams and placed in their academies. González credited Real Madrid for his development, a place he’s been since he was 10.
“It was blessed. Almost every young player in Europe wants to go to the best academy. The best academy is Real Madrid. How they teach you to play, how they build you up as a person more than a player is something that I’m really happy with the decision that my parents took for me,” González said. “I’m super grateful for them because they were everything for me since I was 10 years old.”
Now trading in the famous white jersey for the famous green jersey, González said he’s been enjoying exploring and living in Boston.
“It’s been super good. I’ve been walking around the city as much as I could. We’ve been proactive a lot,” González said. “Just adjusting. It’s a different City, different culture, and different basketball. I think I’ve adapted well and I’m having a great time. It’s going well.”
Playing in the same position as Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, González was asked if he has met them and how the interactions were.
“They are two examples of what a Celtics player looks like. They’re trying to help the young players and try to lead with their own leadership, being the example you want to follow,” González said. “They’re just the example for everybody, showing up and being respectful with everybody. I think that’s the most important thing and the thing I got more value.”
González also spoke about his confidence and knows it’s something he’ll have to “build” as he gets playing time, but said he’s always going to try his hardest.
“Confidence is something that you have to build. You cannot be confident until you can see yourself out there. I would say nothing special,” González said. “What they can expect that I’m going to be the guy that tries harder. It’s my responsibility, I’m always going to try to do it in the proper way. The things that I can control, I will try to be the best.”
González flashed his potential this summer in Las Vegas, playing in the Summer League, where he averaged 10.8 points, 4.5 rebounds and 2.8 assists. With Tatum sidelined for the foreseeable future and a new-look team, González will have every opportunity to compete for minutes.
