Each day until the 2025 NBA Draft, Pippen Ain't Easy will profile one prospect who makes sense as a fit for the Bulls in either the first or second round. These players could fill a need, such as on-ball defense or rim protection, or could fit an archetype that Chicago lacks on its current roster, like an athletic big man or 3-and-D wing.
Well-known yet unproven perfectly describes Real Madrid's Hugo Gonzalez. Fair weather fans have likely never heard Gonzalez's name before, but he's an established name among the NBA Draft and EuroLeague communities.
Gonzalez joined Real Madrid's youth team at age nine before making his professional debut for the squad at age 16. Over the past three years, he's suited up for both Real Madrid U18 and the big league team. However, after turning 19 in February, Gonzalez has spent this past season in the professional ranks.
Despite years of notoriety, Gonzalez has yet to play even a decent-sized role for Real Madrid. Across 64 appearances this season, spanning from the Liga ACB to the EuroLeague, Gonzalez has averaged merely 3.6 points, 1.8 rebounds, and 0.6 assists in 11.2 minutes per game. The 19-year-old has had difficulty carving out a featured role on a team brimming with ex-NBA talent, including Facundo Campazzo, Bruno Fernando, Mario Hezonja, Dzanan Musa, Edy Tavares, and Serge Ibaka.
Hugo Gonzalez's scouting report
Still, regardless of role, it's a testament to Gonzalez's ability to suit up and appear in so many contests for one of the most talented EuroLeague squads. At this point, lacking quality tape against top-tier competition, Gonzalez is one of the more complicated prospects.
Fortunately, there is discernible tape of Gonzalez competing in Europe's Adidas NextGen Tournament (ANGT) against fellow youngsters from 2022 to 2024. Gonzalez even took home Finals MVP of ANGT in 2024, playing alongside potential top-10 pick Egor Demin and against potential first-rounder Nolan Traore.
Offense
In the ANGT, Gonzalez looked the part. At 6-foot-6 and a plus athlete, the Spanish-born forward routinely attacked the rim with success, rose for jumpers over contesting defenders, and put the ball on the deck to make plays for others. He averaged 17.5 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 3.8 assists as a 17-year-old in the ANGT.
While putting up 17.5 points per game is impressive, Gonzalez wasn't particularly efficient, and rarely has been. He shot 40.7 percent from the field and 25.0 percent on 6.0 three-point attempts per contest in the 2023-24 ANGT. Across 64 games over the past year, he's shot only 41.3 percent from the floor and 29.4 percent from beyond the arc.
Although Gonzalez has struggled with three-point accuracy, he's a more than willing shooter—Gonzalez hoists spot-up, movement, and off-the-dribble triples alike. His shot isn't the least bit wonky, and he doesn't show any signs of a lack of confidence, yet it just doesn't go in too often. If there's a silver lining, he's an athletic jump-shooter who can get his shot off when and wherever.
A smooth, physically impressive athlete, Gonzalez is dangerous in the open floor, not necessarily as a ball-handler, but rather filling the wing. He's fast, possesses a tremendous motor, and finishes above the rim. His halfcourt offense remains so-so, especially without a nimble handle, but he's a smart cutter and more than willing to make himself open by finding space off-ball.
Suiting up for Real Madrid, Gonzalez has been given many on-ball reps. Thus, more questions persist than answers. But playing in the ANGT and at youth levels, the 19-year-old demonstrated his straight-line driving ability and some ball-handling creativity. What differentiates Gonzalez from his peers, at least in the youth setting, is his physicality. It was evident on drives as he routinely bulled over defenders to get to the rim.
Defense
At 6-foot-6 and nearly 210 pounds, Gonzalez is built to defend NBA wings. He's both athletic and active, furthering the expectation that he'll look the part in the NBA. Still, his defensive ceiling isn't remarkably high—he's not exactly a difference-maker.
Gonzalez has averaged 0.3 steals and 0.3 blocks per game this season—not the best numbers, but totaling only 11.2 minutes, they aren't half bad. The Spaniard holds a steal percentage of 1.5 and a block percentage of 3.1, demonstrating he'd likely average well over a "stock" per game in a larger role.
As such an active player with a high motor, Gonzalez can, at times, be overzealous. Whether it be going for an ill-timed block, running into a ball handler in the open floor, or prematurely jumping a passing lane, Gonzalez must hone his defense.
Rebounding is often overlooked as a wing prospect, but Gonzalez does a fine job on the glass. He'll likely bring down a few unexpected offensive rebounds per game, while snatching multiple defensive boards purely because he's an active athlete.
Hugo Gonzalez's fit with the Chicago Bulls
High-motor? Welcome to Chicago, Hugo. But seriously, the Bulls lack a high-energy player off the bench. Gonzalez, being 6-foot-6, makes him an even better fit in Chicago. The Bulls are flush with guards, but since the 19-year-old operates more so as a wing, he'd have a clear-cut path to playing time.
Although most second-rounders don't see consistent playing time once drafted, a role similar to his one on Real Madrid would be suitable. Gonzalez could come in for a few minutes, play hard defense, run in and transition, and make a difference in as little as five minutes for the Bulls.
His spot-up shooting, or lack thereof, wouldn't be as magnified on a team that launches so many triples. Plus, players of similar ilk, such as youngsters Dalen Terry and Julian Phillips, have the green light to hoist threes despite waning accuracy. Gonzalez would undoubtedly be given the same confidence from the coaching staff, and unlike Terry, he's displayed the same confidence in himself as a shooter.
Lastly, while he's not an awe-inspiring defender, his frenetic nature would catapult him toward the top hierarchy of Chicago's best defenders, which isn't saying much, but still holds value. Like our last foreign prospect, there's a chance Gonzalez is a draft-and-stash. Nonetheless, he's one of the more intriguing second-rounders, having turned 19 in February.
For more prospect profiles and all things draft-related, check out Pippen Ain't Easy's Chicago Bulls draft page. A new prospect's scouting report will be added daily.