Celtics rookies’ first day in Boston featured Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, and far more

On Wednesday night time, Hugo Gonzalez celebrated his Actual Madrid workforce’s Spanish league championship. Then, at 6am, he obtained the much-anticipated name: the Celtics had been deciding on him twenty eighth within the NBA Draft.

“It was a protracted night time,” Gonzalez stated on Tuesday. “However it actually paid off.”

The times solely obtained extra hectic from there for the 19-year-old, who flew to Boston on Monday.

Alongside the Celtics’ two different 2025 NBA draft picks — VCU sharpshooter Max Shulga and Kentucky middle Amari Williams — Gonzalez was formally launched as a Celtic on Tuesday morning.

First, the trio visited the apply facility, the place they met with Brad Stevens and Joe Mazzulla. Gonzalez additionally formally signed his contract with the Celtics, a 4-year, $14.3 million deal.

Shulga and Williams, who’re each more likely to signal two-way contracts, additionally obtained to fulfill their new head coach.

“He’s a really simple man,” Shulga stated of Mazzulla. “Says issues how they’re. Doesn’t actually sugarcoat something.”

Shulga has extra perception into the method of growing on the Celtics than the common rookie; in his freshman season at Utah State, he was teammates with Neemias Queta, who’s coming into his third season on the Celtics.

Queta and Shulga went out to dinner when Shulga labored out with the Celtics a couple of weeks in the past, and now, the Ukrainian guard is choosing Queta’s mind on the method. Queta has suggested him to “be a sponge” and attempt to be taught as a lot as doable from his teammates and the teaching employees.

“He stated it’s gonna be exhausting,” Shulga stated. “As a rookie, particularly, it’s gonna be a transition interval.”

After breakfast, the rookies headed to the Huntington YMCA, the place the Celtics unveiled a renovated basketball courtroom — and their new draft class. They addressed the greater than 75 youngsters in attendance and shared their preliminary reflections on what it was like to listen to their names referred to as.

“Being drafted by the Celtics is a dream come true,” Gonzalez stated.

Donning Celtics T-shirts, Gonzalez, Hulga, and Williams participated in drills and competitions for practically an hour. It was the kind of occasion that the Celtics often maintain, wherein younger gamers spend high quality time with youngsters and area people facilities throughout the Boston space.

Whereas some groups introduce their rookies in a extra formal surroundings, the Celtics have turned to neighborhood occasions to take action as of late.

“I feel it’s at all times necessary figuring out you’re taking part in for town, not only for your self and your teammates, however everybody in the neighborhood,” Williams stated. “It’s important to be linked and present your appreciation.”

The rookies additionally obtained to fulfill Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown

The Celtics shared images of Gonzalez, Shulga, and Williams assembly the franchise cornerstones, Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown.

Final week, Stevens stated that each stars have been often rehabbing on the Auerbach Heart, Tatum from his Achilles rupture restore, and Brown from his partially torn meniscus.

“It’s normally the time of the 12 months once I don’t see these guys rather a lot,” Stevens stated. “They normally go and type of relaxation, and get away, however they’ve each prioritized getting higher and rehabbing, and after a protracted season, I admire that about them.”

Neemias Queta, who might be due for a bigger frontcourt function with Luke Kornet and Kristaps Porzingis each already departing this offseason, was additionally on the apply facility.

Shulga and Williams will each be taking part in in Summer time League, which begins on July tenth in Las Vegas. The standing of Gonzalez, who’s just some days faraway from the conclusion of his season with Madrid, has not but been confirmed, although he expressed optimism he’d be a part of the workforce in Las Vegas.

“I hope sure,” Gonzalez stated. “I’m fairly enthusiastic about it.”