LAS VEGAS — Luka Garza did not see much opportunity with the Minnesota Timberwolves over the last three seasons behind a deep frontcourt.
Boston
should be a far different story for the big man following the departures of Luke Kornet, Kristaps Porzingis and Al Horford this offseason.
That likely opportunity is what drew the 26-year-old to Boston and
led to a two-year contract for the big man
on the opening night of free agency.
Garza spoke for the first time on Sunday about what led him to Boston while watching the
Celtics win over the Knicks in Summer League.
“Obviously, the franchise speaks for itself and just the winning and the history,” Garza said. “I’m a big basketball junkie, so obviously the chance to put on that uniform and play for the Celtics is attractive enough. But obviously there’s a lot of opportunity, especially in the frontcourt and with the guys that we have. I think the front office and the coaches believe in me and what I can do, so I just saw that as really good for me at this stage in my career.”
Garza only played 584 minutes during his three years in Minnesota, sitting regularly behind the likes of Rudy Gobert, Julius Randle and Naz Reid. With Boston’s current frontcourt depth chart consisting of Neemias Queta, Xavier Tillman and Amari Williams, Garza sees a chance to show what he can bring in a larger sample size.
“I feel like I learned so much from my time in Minnesota from being around those type of guys, but I think it was time to find that opportunity to get on the floor,” Garza said. “I felt like in the limited opportunities I was able to get, I was able to show well and maximize those. But for me it was a priority for me to get somewhere where I could get more of those opportunities.”
Garza, 26, averaged 3.5 points and 1.4 rebounds in 39 games for the Timberwolves last season. He spent a year in Detroit being drafted at No. 53 overall in the 2021 NBA Draft by the Pistons before joining the Wolves.
The big man is eager to bring a high level of energy to the floor as he tries to fill a very pretty void in Boston’s frontcourt.
“I think number one just the skill that I have more than anything is playing hard,” Garza said. “I think that helps me and makes up for a lot of things that I don’t have, but obviously through being in the league four years I’ve learned a lot more and have a better understanding, a better IQ in angles and the different things that can help me out there, especially on the defensive end.
“Offensively, I know that’s the side that I have a lot of confidence in that I can really help a team in many ways, just create good offense, create good flow within it and always be able to help get shots up there whether it’s for myself or my teammates, through screening, passing, whatever it is, I just feel like that’s a strength of mine that I’ve been able to show in the times that I’ve had.”
It remains to be seen whether the Celtics will bring in more competition in the frontcourt for next season, including potentially Summer League standout Charles Bassey. No matter what direction they go in, Garza looks set to either sink or swim in Boston next season while playing the biggest minutes of his career.
