The Boston Celtics rely on 3-point shots more than any other team in the NBA.
Yet, their first-round pick Hugo Gonzalez isn’t a 3-point threat. In fact, Gonzalez’s outside shot might be the greatest weakness in the 6-foot-7 guard’s all-around game.
Gonzalez shot 27.1% from beyond the arc with Real Madrid over 29 Liga ACB games this season. And it isn’t lost on the 19-year-old that he needs to vastly improve in that area as he makes the massive transition to the NBA.
“Biggest adjustment is try to handle out with that 3-point line — it’s really far,” Gonzalez told reporters earlier this week, per MassLive’s Souichi Terada. “To handle with the lines, not stepping on the white lines. Trying to adjust to also the pace and the rhythm is another thing compared to Europe. Just trying to adapt. I think I’m adapting myself well, so just pretty excited to happen on the court.”
Gonzalez got acclimated to NBA life this past week with the Summer League Celtics practicing at the Auerbach Center. He’ll also get a chance to work on his long-range shot throughout Boston’s Summer League slate.
The Celtics could have let Gonzalez be a draft-and-stash pick and let the teenager develop more overseas, but he’ll suit up for Boston next season. He even could get regular minutes after the Celtics dismantled their championship roster due to financial constraints this offseason.
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The Celtics probably won’t throw Gonzalez into the NBA fire right away, but he’ll have a chance to learn while trying to carve out a role. It’s all an opportunity Gonzalez doesn’t take for granted.
“I’m pretty grateful for the whole organization because I know it’s difficult to be on a new place, being a foreign player, it’s even harder,” Gonzalez said. “Every people here has done a really good job with me. I’m really, really grateful for it. Then teammates, Jordan (Walsh), Baylor (Scheierman), Miles (Norris), they’re just trying to have me get acclimated as soon as possible for the Summer League.”
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