Hugo Gonzalez’s rookie chore has quickly become the Celtics’ new obsession

BOSTON — Hugo Gonzalez carries a game of Catan onto every team flight, as has frequently been chronicled on the Celtics’ social media accounts.

But, don’t be fooled — the Celtics rookie is not a part of the team’s regular competitive Catan games.

“I am the Catan hater,” Gonzalez said emphatically, sitting at his locker on Sunday night. “I am the Catan hater.”

As the team’s lone full-time (and youngest) rookie, Gonzalez is responsible for carrying the board on road trips. But he never, ever actually plays.

“He’s just the board carrier,” Payton Pritchard, whose locker is adjacent to Gonzalez’s, explained.

“Hold that board!” Ron Harper Jr. bellowed.

The typical Catan participants are Pritchard, Derrick White, Jordan Walsh, Ron Harper Jr., and Neemias Queta.

For those unfamiliar: Catan is a multiplayer board game where 3 to 4 players compete to settle an island by building roads, settlements, and cities. Players collect resources – wood, grain, wool, brick, and ore – based on dice rolls. Players can trade resources strategically, block opponents, and work to gain control of settlements and cities.

“I’m the best,” Pritchard said matter-of-factly, claiming he wins about 60% of contests. “[It’s] more of a strategy game, more mental to it. You’ve got to be better.”

Gonzalez claims his teammates have routinely misplaced important components of the board game, and each time they do, it’s his job to replenish the pieces.

“Sadly for me, they usually lose the pieces. I’m a big investor in the Catan company,” said the 20-year-old. “I bought, like, 10 Catans this year.”

Gonzalez nods vigorously.

“I gave you some cash!” Pritchard chimed in from his locker.

“When?” Gonzalez said.

“Right Neemi??” Pritchard yelled over to Queta, who sat at his locker a few feet away. “I gave him cash in November!”

“Neemi, when was that???” Gonzalez said.

The rookie task was one that Gonzalez jokingly shook his head at.

“It could be worse!” said Harper Jr., crashing the interview with a grin.

Harper Jr., who is a two-way player on the Celtics, is a newer addition to the Catan group; he spent the first half of the season with the Maine Celtics. And, Pritchard — the group’s unofficial Catan leader — has approved of his play as of late.

“Ron’s getting better,” Pritchard said. “But second is tied between Neemi and D-White.”

“I’m a newcomer,” Harper Jr. added.

“Jordan sucks,” Pritchard said.

Not everyone on the team plays Catan. Sam Hauser said he has yet to dabble with the crowd-favorite. Hauser, who said he’s not even sure how the game works, asked Queta who typically wins.

“Definitely not me,” quipped the Portuguese big man.

Hugo’s rookie responsibility hasn’t come without its difficulties. In December, Gonzalez had to get the Catan game delivered onto the runway before a road trip, because the team was without it (Gonzalez claims his teammates forgot to bring it, Pritchard maintained it was Gonzalez who misplaced it).

“They lost it!” Gonzalez said. “I never lost it. I got it in my car.”

The Celtics’ Catan obsession is going nowhere, though the team is currently amid a homestand.

When they hit the road on Sunday for a four-game road trip that includes stops in Charlotte, Atlanta, Miami, and Milwaukee, Gonzalez will once again be tasked with bringing the board game aboard.

Pritchard encourages new participants.

“Anybody can play if they want to,” he said. “But, they got to put money on it.”