Hugo Gonzalez, the 19-year-old Spanish rookie for the Boston Celtics, is going through the most difficult and important adjustment of his life.

For Gonzalez, this is not only the starting point of his NBA career, but also a journey of rebirth that transcends language, culture and athletic differences. Gonzalez is currently participating in the Boston Celtics' intensive training camp.

Facing a basketball system completely different from that of Europe, with a faster tempo, more intense physical confrontation, and complex new tactical terminology, Gonzalez faced a double challenge in understanding instructions in English while competing in training.

However, in a recent interview, Gonzalez did not back down: "I feel I am on the right track. American basketball is different from European basketball, but I will adapt as soon as possible."

Fortunately, González has more experience than most rookies. Before being selected by the Boston Celtics with the 28th pick in the first round in June, he had already played for Real Madrid for three years and made his professional debut at the age of 16.

As a member of a European powerhouse, González played alongside former NBA players in high-intensity competition early on, helping the team win two consecutive championships. This experience made him more calm and mature in the face of the NBA's pace.

Boston Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla noted that Gonzalez has demonstrated admirable professionalism and adaptability: "He has an open mind and is willing to work hard. Even though the language, rules and court are different, the environment has prepared him well."

The most challenging part of training camp for Gonzalez was mastering English terminology. To help him integrate, the coaching staff even tried to communicate in Spanish. Gonzalez said with a smile, "The coaching staff told me it was okay if they had to explain it twice. For me, I had to work harder and be more focused than everyone else."