MEDFORD, Mass. – Hugo Gonzalez was relishing every second.
The Celtics rookie – still a few months away from his NBA debut – volunteered at a celebration of basketball and community in West Medford on Sunday, and spent his afternoon with kids who one day dream of being in his position.
Gonzalez helped lead a basketball clinic at Dugger Park alongside Utah Jazz forward Georges Niang, who is from Lowell, Mass., and former NBA player Shabbaz Napier, who is from Roxbury, Mass.
The trio hung out with hundreds of kids – playfully competing in 1-on-1 games, signing autographs, and snapping photos with anyone who asked.
All the while, the city of Medford celebrated basketball and community in its 9th annual Hoops and Hope event, a free, day-long basketball clinic that raises money for two causes: the West Medford Community Center, a staple center in the community, and the Krystle Campbell Memorial Fund, a charitable foundation established in honor a Medford native who was killed in the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing.
Nearly 400 kids attended the event, which included a high school basketball tournament for both boys and girls, a men’s college basketball tournament, and youth basketball clinics led by NBA players.
Trent Headley, a West Medford native who is now a police officer in Malden, serves as Hoops and Hope’s unofficial security person. Headley explained that the event is more than just a fundraiser: it’s also an annual community gathering.
“We’re a proud people from this neighborhood,” said Headley. “It’s a 100-year-old, middle-class, Black neighborhood for many, many years.”
“When you grew up here, everybody touched you in some kind of way. We all knew each other’s birthdays, and the older folks knew your parents. You got home and you came down to this park after school to play basketball.”
Andy Beck, a West Medford resident of more than 40 years who helps direct Hoops and Hope, said the involvement of NBA players has been huge.
“On a human level, it’s wonderful to see them give up their time to give back and celebrate,” Beck told CelticsBlog. “When you see a 7-year-old looking you in the eye, just in awe of what you’ve been able to accomplish, that has to make you feel great.”
And, having an active Celtics player in West Medford meant the world to longtime residents. Headley said that growing up, the kids would convene after weekend Celtics games and emulate what they saw on their television screens on the basketball courts of Dugger Park.
“I wanted to be like Larry Bird,” Headley said. “You’d watch the games, and you’d come right down to this park to practice the moves.”
Inside a special day in West Medford
On the sunny Sunday afternoon, Georges Niang, Shabbaz Nappier, and Hugo Gonzalez each helped lead basketball drills on the park’s two outdoor courts.
Then, the trio of pros took time to answer questions from excited boys and girls.
Niang, who was acquired by the Celtics in July from the Atlanta Hawks, but traded to the Utah Jazz earlier this month, joked about his brief Celtics tenure as he recalled the many stops in his NBA journey.
Nappier recalled playing basketball for 12 hours a day in Roxbury’s Washington Park, an upbringing he credits for propelling him toward the NBA.
Gonzalez spoke to the kids about his experiences growing up in Spain and revealed that Pau Gasol and Rudy Fernandez were his heroes growing up.
“I was just – five, six years ago, like you guys,” Gonzalez told the kids who sat eager-eyed on the concrete. He recounted his experiences as a kid playing at the Real Madrid academy.
Gonzalez’s participation and energy drew praise from the event’s organizers.
“He’s been wonderful,” Beck said. “It’s great for kids to see somebody from Spain and to hear him talk about his journey, which is a little bit different than kids who grew up in the US or in the inner-city or in West Medford. It’s wonderful to see kids learning from people who speak different languages, come from different backgrounds.”
One boy asked Gonzalez when he was planning on retiring, spurring laughter. Gonzalez smiled, but answered the question earnestly.
“When you feel like you gave your all to the sport,” Gonzalez said. “I’m 19, so I hope that’s in a long time.”
Gonzalez’s participation marked the first time that an active Celtics player has volunteered at Hoops and Hope. The event, unlike some community events NBA players participate in, did not involve financial incentives; Gonzalez simply wanted to hang out in the community.
“It’s really a tribute to Hugo to show up,” Beck said. “It’s great to see an active Celtics player – we’ve had retired Celtic players – and I know how busy [the active players] are.”
After the clinics ended, Gonzalez made sure to take photos and get to know many of the event’s attendees.
Many older residents who weren’t partaking in the basketball festivities simply brought a lawn chair, watched, and relished the community atmosphere.
Several pointed out just how engaged and warm Gonzalez was to each of the kids who approached him. One woman proclaimed that although she didn’t know much about basketball, he was already the greatest draft pick ever.
Gonzalez would have to surpass countless Celtics greats to enter that conversation, but Headley took away one thing from observing the 19-year-old all afternoon: “He’s gonna end up being a fan favorite.”
