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

On Wednesday night, Hugo Gonzalez celebrated his Real Madrid team’s Spanish league championship. Then, at 6am, he got the much-anticipated call: the Celtics were selecting him 28th in the NBA Draft.

“It was a long night,” Gonzalez said on Tuesday. “But it really paid off.”

The days only got more hectic from there for the 19-year-old, who flew to Boston on Monday.

Alongside the Celtics’ two other 2025 NBA draft picks — VCU sharpshooter Max Shulga and Kentucky center Amari Williams — Gonzalez was officially introduced as a Celtic on Tuesday morning.

First, the trio visited the practice facility, where they met with Brad Stevens and Joe Mazzulla. Gonzalez also officially signed his contract with the Celtics, a 4-year, $14.3 million deal.

Shulga and Williams, who are both likely to sign two-way contracts, also got to meet their new head coach.

“He’s a very straightforward guy,” Shulga said of Mazzulla. “Says things how they are. Doesn’t really sugarcoat anything.”

Shulga has more insight into the process of developing on the Celtics than the average rookie; in his freshman season at Utah State, he was teammates with Neemias Queta, who is entering his third season on the Celtics.

Queta and Shulga went out to dinner when Shulga worked out with the Celtics a few weeks ago, and now, the Ukrainian guard is picking Queta’s brain on the process. Queta has advised him to “be a sponge” and try to learn as much as possible from his teammates and the coaching staff.

“He said it’s gonna be hard,” Shulga said. “As a rookie, especially, it’s gonna be a transition period.”

After breakfast, the rookies headed to the Huntington YMCA, where the Celtics unveiled a renovated basketball court — and their new draft class. They addressed the more than 75 kids in attendance and shared their initial reflections on what it was like to hear their names called.

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

Donning Celtics T-shirts, Gonzalez, Hulga, and Williams participated in drills and competitions for nearly an hour. It was the type of event that the Celtics regularly hold, in which young players spend quality time with kids and local community centers across the Boston area.

While some teams introduce their rookies in a more formal environment, the Celtics have turned to community events to do so as of late.

“I think it’s always important knowing you’re playing for the city, not just for yourself and your teammates, but everyone in the community,” Williams said. “It’s essential to be connected and show your appreciation.”

The rookies also got to meet Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown

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

Last week, Stevens said that both stars have been regularly rehabbing at the Auerbach Center, Tatum from his Achilles rupture repair, and Brown from his partially torn meniscus.

“It’s usually the time of the year when I don’t see those guys a lot,” Stevens said. “They usually go and kind of rest, and get away, but they’ve both prioritized getting better and rehabbing, and after a long season, I appreciate that about them.”

Neemias Queta, who could be due for a larger frontcourt role with Luke Kornet and Kristaps Porzingis both already departing this offseason, was also at the practice facility.

Shulga and Williams will both be playing in Summer League, which begins on July 10th in Las Vegas. The status of Gonzalez, who is just a few days removed from the conclusion of his season with Madrid, has not yet been confirmed, though he expressed optimism he’d join the team in Las Vegas.

“I hope yes,” Gonzalez said. “I’m pretty excited about it.”