Celtics Hugo Gonzalez on the difference between EuroLeague, NBA Playoffs

TL;DR

Hugo Gonzalez, a rookie forward for the Boston Celtics, discusses the differences between the EuroLeague and NBA playoffs, highlighting the longer NBA season and the best-of-seven playoff format. He emphasizes the importance of consistency and strategy in the playoffs.

Key points

Hugo Gonzalez is a rookie forward for the Boston Celtics.
He compares EuroLeague and NBA playoff formats.
NBA playoffs are best-of-seven, while EuroLeague is best-of-five.
Gonzalez highlights the importance of strategy and consistency in playoffs.

Boston CelticsReal MadridHugo Gonzalez

Rookie Boston Celtics forward Hugo Gonzalez had a successful campaign in the 2025-26 NBA regular season to kick off his career in the league. And a big part of why the 19-year-old did as well as he did with Boston this season likely has a lot to do with his experience playing as a pro in Europe with Real Madrid since his early teens. The Spaniard took some time to talk about his experience adjusting to the NBA and the contrasts and similarities between the Association and the EuroLeague in a recent interview. "It's a longer season," said Gonzalez, who also pointed to the length of the postseason as a notable change for him to adapt to. "In Europe, we've got ... best of five," he explained. "Here it's best of seven, so expecting some long runs or some long rounds. But (we) try to get the work done every single game and try our best."

BOSTON, MA - MARCH 1: Hugo Gonzalez #28 of the Boston Celtics battles for a rebound with Tyrese Maxey #0 of the Philadelphia 76ers during the second quarter at TD Garden on March 1, 2026 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 Images License Agreement. (Photo By Winslow Townson/Getty Images) Still, one major difference coming from a series with two fewer games is that each carries more weight. "It's the best of seven, we always try to win in four, I guess," said Gonzalez. "So, I guess it's just the strategy ... to win every single game." "And, you cannot get one (bad) day, you can have maybe one ... but one bad day in the whole playoffs because, playoff is not waiting for nobody. And if you want to win, you got to have the hundred percent of yourself." Listen to "Havlicek Stole the Pod" on: Blue Wire: iTunes: YouTube: *This article originally appeared on Celtics Wire: *

Q&A

What are the key differences between EuroLeague and NBA playoffs according to Hugo Gonzalez?

Hugo Gonzalez notes that the NBA playoffs are best-of-seven series, unlike the EuroLeague's best-of-five, leading to longer postseason runs and greater weight on each game.

How did Hugo Gonzalez perform in his rookie NBA season?

Hugo Gonzalez had a successful campaign in the 2025-26 NBA regular season, aided by his prior professional experience in Europe.

What does Hugo Gonzalez say about playoff strategy in the NBA?

Gonzalez emphasizes the need for consistency, stating that a team cannot afford to have more than one bad game in the playoffs to succeed.