Unquestionably, the Boston Celtics suffered an unfortunate end to their season with Jayson Tatum‘s Achilles injury. Next season will undoubtedly be a lost one as Tatum recovers. Additionally, they parted with significant pieces this offseason due to second apron implications.
Nevertheless, Boston made the most out of the draft and arguably won it, selecting Real Madrid guard Hugo Gonzalez, Kentucky center Amari Williams, and VCU guard Max Shulga. At Summer League, they showed interesting flashes despite some struggles. With proper development, each rookie can be an important piece of Boston’s future as they navigate the current uncertainty of the Tatum-Brown era. Let’s dive into three reasons why the Boston Celtics won the 2025 NBA Draft.
3 Reasons Why The Boston Celtics Won The 2025 NBA Draft
#1: Defense Is The Plan
One of the reasons why Boston won this draft is their prioritization of defense. Considering that they lost significant defensive pieces in the offseason, gaining three young, promising defensive prospects is a major win. Specifically, Gonzalez and Williams demonstrated, with their previous teams, that they are great defenders at their respective positions. Gonzalez has the size and athleticism to be an excellent wing defender. Additionally, he showed that he processes the game well on the defensive end, and he possesses an incredible motor. He always gives full effort out on the court and constantly looks for opportunities on defense to force turnovers. Furthermore, Gonzalez also has a strong frame, making him much harder to bully despite his young age.
As for Williams, he proved himself to be a major deterrent at the rim for Kentucky this past season. His length played a big part in his ability to protect the rim, blocking 1.2 shots per game with the Wildcats. He constantly uses his length to bother opponents and their shot attempts.
While not on the same level as the other two, Shulga has demonstrated himself as an aggressive competitor on the defensive end. He constantly plays hard on defense and is a consistent pest for opponents. Plus, Shulga generally knows where he needs to be when defending off the ball. All three players possess the ability and talent to be plus defenders in the league as they develop with Boston.
#2: Big Passing For The Big Man
Another major draft win for the Celtics is getting such a high-level passer at the center position in Williams. At Kentucky, Williams averaged 3.2 assists per game, which is impressive for a big. He showed off his playmaking in creative ways, as he can throw some incredible passes. He uses his height to his advantage, allowing him a wider view of potential passing opportunities. Unquestionably, Williams can be used in various offensive actions, such as dribble hand-offs or in the post, and he can still find open teammates. His passing skills give the Celtics a unique skill set at an extremely thin position for the team.
#3: Motor To The Max
The last reason why Boston won the draft is the fact that they selected players who constantly play hard on the court. One of the best aspects of Gonzalez as a prospect is his tenacity. He consistently showed that he is willing to make multiple efforts out on the court, whether it be from chasing boards or making defensive plays. As mentioned before, Shulga consistently plays aggressive defense and will find ways to be disruptive in passing lanes. Plus, he also makes an effort to go after rebounds. As for Williams, he consistently works hard to carve out space under the basket for rebounds, especially on the offensive glass.
The Celtics drafted a crop of rookies that will always play hard on the court whenever they get the opportunity.
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