Summer League wish list for Celtics prospects

Forget about last year’s playoff exit. Forget about the New York Knicks winning the Finals. Forget about all the Jaylen Brown trade drama.

Boston Celtics basketball is almost back, baby!

The 2026 NBA Summer League is set to kickoff on Thursday, July 9, in Las Vegas, and the Celtics’ last two draft classes are expected to play under assistant coach Amile Jefferson. That includes 2025 draftees Hugo Gonzalez and Amari Williams, as well as rookies Chris Cenac Jr. and Dillon Mitchell.

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While Summer League is never the most meaningful stage for young prospects, it gives rooks a chance to show their stuff for the first time on the professional level, recent draftees an opportunity to show growth, and fringe NBA players a shot at proving their worth to the league.

Sometimes Summer League performances clearly exemplify a young player’s potential on the NBA level. Think Damian Lillard in 2012. Over four games, Lillard displayed immediate signs of superstardom, as he posted 26.5 points per game on solid shooting efficiency while creating for himself and his team at a dominant level. He won the Las Vegas Summer League’s co-MVP award for his play.

Most of the time, the opposite is true. Going back to 2012, does anyone remember who the other co-MVP was? It was the Memphis Grizzlies’ second-round draft pick from the year before, Josh Selby. He put up 24.2 points, 2.4 rebounds and 2.4 steals per game that summer. Selby ended up playing 38 total games in the NBA and averaged 2.2 points per game.

So, regardless of how the young Celtics play this summer, don’t put too much stock into anything, good or bad.

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Nevertheless, what can we reasonably hope to see out of the young guns this summer?

Hugo Gonzalez: all-around excellence

BOSTON, MA – MAY 2: Hugo Gonzalez #28 of the Boston Celtics celebrates during the game against the Philadelphia 76ers during Round One Game Seven of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on May 2, 2026 at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty…

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Publish date : 2026-07-10 09:27:00

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