The Board Carrier: Hugo González and the Boston Celtics’ Catan Obsession

In the high-stakes world of the NBA, where multi-million dollar contracts and championship aspirations dominate the conversation, the Boston Celtics have found a different kind of intensity during their road trips. It doesn’t involve a basketball or a playbook, but rather a hexagonal map of an island and a fierce battle for resources. The game is Catan, and for rookie Hugo González, it has become a professional nightmare.

González, the former Real Madrid standout and the Celtics’ only full-time rookie, has found himself at the center of a locker room obsession he doesn’t share. While his teammates engage in heated strategic battles over wood, grain, and ore, González occupies a particularly specific, non-playing role: he is the designated board carrier.

The Burden of the Rookie

NBA locker rooms are steeped in tradition, and the “rookie chores” are a rite of passage. For González, being the youngest player on the roster means he is responsible for transporting the Catan board on every team flight. However, the duty extends far beyond simple logistics. Because the Celtics’ competitive players frequently lose game components, González is also the team’s unofficial procurement officer.

“I am the Catan hater,” González admitted in an interview with Celtics Blog. “I am the Catan hater.”

The financial cost of this rookie duty has been surprisingly high. González revealed that he has had to purchase approximately 10 Catan sets this year using his own money to replace the pieces his teammates have misplaced. “Sadly for me, they usually lose the pieces. I’m a sizeable investor in the Catan company,” he joked.

The Island’s Power Players

While González views the game with disdain, a core group of Celtics players has turned the in-flight experience into a legitimate competition. The regular participants include Payton Pritchard, Derrick White, Jordan Walsh, Ron Harper Jr., and Neemias Queta.

For those unfamiliar with the game, Catan is a strategy board game where 3 to 4 players compete to settle an island by building roads, settlements, and cities. Success depends on collecting resources based on dice rolls and negotiating trades with opponents to block their progress.

Payton Pritchard has emerged as the dominant force in the Celtics’ aerial league. Pritchard, whose locker is adjacent to González’s, claims a win rate of approximately 60%. He describes the game as “more of a strategy game, more mental,” adding that to win, “you’ve got to be better.”

Pritchard was quick to clarify González’s role in these matchups, bluntly stating, “Hugo González sólo es el que lleva el tablero” (Hugo González is only the one who carries the board).

The ‘Catan Curse’ and Locker Room Friction

The tension over the board game reached a peak in December during a team trip. The Celtics found themselves without the game before a flight, forcing González to bring the Catan set to the court. This led to a playful but pointed dispute between the rookie and the veteran Pritchard.

Pritchard accused González of misplacing the game, but the Spaniard vigorously defended himself. “Lo perdieron! Yo nunca lo perdí. Lo tengo en mi coche” (They lost it! I never lost it. I have it in my car), González argued, insisting that his teammates were the ones responsible for the disappearance.

This ongoing saga has not gone unnoticed by the Boston faithful. As of April 9, 2026, Celtics fans have taken to social media to remind González of his “particular maldición” (particular curse) with the game during his debut NBA season.

For González, the experience is a stark reminder of the hierarchy of a professional sports team. While he may be fighting for minutes on the court, in the air, he is simply the man responsible for the hexagons. Whether he ever decides to join the game or continues to remain the “Catan hater” remains to be seen, but for now, the board remains in his hands.

The Celtics continue their season with the Catan board likely packed for the next flight. Fans can follow official team updates for more looks into the team’s unique locker room chemistry.

Do you feel rookie chores like this facilitate build team chemistry, or is the “Catan curse” too much for one rookie to handle? Let us know in the comments.