​It might not have been his sharpest shooting night, as the Spaniard went 3-for-16 from the floor and even called it the worst shooting night of his life, but Boston Celtics sophomore forward Hugo Gonzalez still stood out in their 83-80 victory over the Toronto Raptors in the first game of the NBA’s 2026 Las Vegas Summer League on Friday night. Gonzalez logged a team-high 37 minutes and produced 17 points, 10 rebounds, 8 assists, and a steal, underscoring his growing comfort and impact within the NBA landscape.
Sin City Celtics coach Amile Jefferson highlighted the areas Gonzalez has been sharpening this offseason, specifically ball handling and shooting. In a recent interview with CLNS Media, Jefferson discussed the ongoing development plan for the Madrid native, noting the collaboration with trainer Tyler Lashbrook that has helped Gonzalez diversify his reads on and off the ball. The emphasis on screening with guards and making decisive plays in the paint has been a core focus of their work, with Jefferson stressing that growth comes from constant practice and deliberate decision-making under pressure.
“We’ve got to be honest with what we’re asking him to do, and he’s embraced that,” Jefferson said. “You could see it today—there were moments when he took control. It’s not always going to be perfect, and it’s not always going to be a called play. Sometimes you’ve just got to have the ball in your hands and create something, and that doesn’t happen in a vacuum. We work on this every day.”
The Celtics coach also touched on the rigorous approach used during offseason training to push Gonzalez out of his comfort zone. He explained, “How do you make a player like Hugo uncomfortable in the offseason? It’s part of his development plan. It’s built into his workouts. We throw bodies at him, bring in coaches, and place him in situations where everything is live. We push him to the point where he experiences both success and failure in a controlled setting, knowing that the next decision will come quickly and with real consequence.”
Jefferson described the drill-work as an ongoing process: “In workouts, we simulate live game action. Everything isn’t going to be smooth. We might work through a drill only to lose it. It’s not about redoing the same thing; it’s about introducing new pressure, new reads, new angles, and then forcing him to adapt on the fly. The goal is for him to move efficiently from one action to the next, regardless of the outcome of the previous play.”
The Summer Celtics coach believes that Gonzalez’s steady growth could translate into heightened effectiveness as he begins to add more consistent shooting to his already versatile skill set. When Gonzalez connects on those added scoring opportunities in addition to his playmaking and rebounding, it could become a potent weapon for Boston in the Summer League and beyond.
The emergence of a player like Gonzalez has generated optimism around Boston’s developing core, especially as the team continues to cultivate its young talent through the Las Vegas Summer League. If he maintains his trajectory and translates his offseason improvements to game action, Gonzalez has a chance to become a frontline contributor for the Celtics as he continues to mature within the NBA ecosystem.
As the season progresses, observers will be watching to see how Gonzalez’s expanded tool kit—particularly his ball handling, decision-making in the paint, and shooting efficiency—translates into more consistent performances. If he can consistently apply these improvements in high-stakes moments, the Celtics’ young forward could become a central piece of the team’s future, capable of impacting games with increased frequency and effectiveness.