Talking about high-impact rookies, most conversations will start with Cooper Flagg. The #1 pick in the 2025 draft has been very good for the Dallas Mavericks in his first season, getting better as the year goes by.
Kon Knueppel has been integral in a number of victories for the Charlotte Hornets, and is on pace to smash the rookie record for most threes made by a first-year player.
But neither of those guys are who this discussion is about. The most efficient and impactful rookie this season was a late first-round pick.
We’re talking about Hugo Gonzalez. Surprised? Well, the next few section will help clear some of that up.
Gonzalez has been the most impactful rookie by the numbers, and there is a good reason he gets minutes on the #2 team in the East as a 19-year-old.
More words to come.
Hugo Gonzalez Having Profound Impact On Winning
If you want to get minutes on a Joe Mazzulla team, you have to play hard. If there is one thing Hugo Gonzalez has done as well as any player on the roster this year, it’s give 110% effort whenever he’s been in.
Gonzalez has been the most effective rookie on the court per net rating this season. And it’s not even close.
To this point, a tweet from Celtics PXP announcer Drew Carter sums things up to show just how much more efficient the 19-year-old has been. Entering action on January 26th, Boston was +200 with Gonzalez on the court. The next closest on the list… Dylan Harper at +96. All-time per-game net rating leaders by a rookie also puts Gonzalez at #3.
The only two players ahead of him there are Tim Duncan and Chet Holmgren. This is a historic-level impact by the young man, and it’s been clear from the start that they drafted him for a reason.
A lot was made of Jayson Tatum being “only 19” when he was having a monstrous impact during his rookie campaign. Though a very different player from the Boston superstar, Gonzalez has proven to be integral to winning and success.
This is a guy that will be playing key playoff minutes on a team trying to turn some heads and make some noise. Every time you watch the Celtics for the rest of the season, keep your eyes peeled on #28.
Boston Celtics Defying Expectations Set for Them
Few expected the Boston Celtics to be a top two team in the East on January 28th, but here they are. No Jayson Tatum, no problem has essentially become the moniker. Jaylen Brown has played like an MVP, while the new center rotation has been effective enough in holding the fort down.
Derrick White has continued to be the two-way player the Celtics have needed, while Anfernee Simons has been the sixth man they’d hope he would be. Of course, Payton Pritchard has been steady as a starter, too.
Boston is a legitimate contender in the East, and owe a huge chunk of their success to guys like Hugo Gonzalez. Young, hungry players have impacted winning here. Joe Mazzulla is running a coaching masterclass.
Come playoff time, this is a team to keep an eye on. And if Jayson Tatum happens to return this season, all bets are off.
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