Luka Garza joined the Boston Celtics as a free agent this past summer. He’d spent the past three years buried on the Minnesota Timberwolves bench, primarily due to the talent Chris Finch had at his disposal.
Since arriving in Boston, Garza has carved out a role within Joe Mazzulla’s bench unit. He’s proven himself to be an elite screener, quality rebounder and reliable threat from deep.
However, Garza’s role and minutes took a hit when Brad Stevens acquired Nikola Vucevic from the Chicago Bulls at the Feb. 5 trade deadline. Yet, when Vucevic went down for 14 games with a fractured finger on his right hand, Garza stepped back into the rotation, proving himself capable of being an impactful center in the NBA.
Now that Vucevic has recovered from his injury, Garza’s minutes are projected to be sporadic. He was a DNP-CD during Boston’s 115-101 win over the Toronto Raptors on Sunday.
According to Luka’s dad, Frank Garza, the fifth-year big man remains committed to the Celtics, as he looks to repay the faith Brad Stevens and Mazzulla have shown in him.
“In our family, there’s such a thing as unconditional commitment,” Frank Garza told Heavy on Sports. “There are no conditions. We’re unconditionally committed to winning for this city, for his teammates, for his coach, for Brad. They gave him the shot.”
Boston is the first team to give Garza a legitimate shot at proving himself in the NBA. Earlier this season, he surpassed the total minutes he’d played in his previous four years in the league combined.
Luka Garza Is Commited To The Boston Celtics
Garza and Vucevic have similar talents on the court. They’re both stretch fives who can score across all three levels, they’re both talented rebounders, and they both operate as drop coverage defenders.
With that in mind, Garza is making the best of his current situation by turning his time with Vucevic into a learning experience, rather than stressing over playing time.
“So, Luka and Vooch talk a lot,” Frank Garza told Heavy on Sports. “You ask him, ‘Hey, what would you do against his team? You’ve been in the league so long. You’re this and that. You’re an All-Star. We’re so happy for that.”
If Garza can develop his game by learning from Vucevic, then both he and the Celtics will be better for it. Furthermore, Garza has another year left on his contract with the Celtics.
If he continues to improve his game, remains committed to pushing for success, and finds a way to continually earn playing time, he could emerge as Boston’s long-term backup big man.
Celtics Have A Nikola Vucevic Decision
Vucevic is in the final year of his contract. He will become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season. With Neemias Queta, Garza and Amari Williams all under contract for next season, Brad Stevens must decide if keeping Vucevic beyond this campaign is both viable and necessary.
A lot will likely depend on how impactful Vucevic is during the upcoming postseason run, and whether he’s willing to accept a team-friendly deal. Regardless of how things play out with Vucevic, Garza will undoubtedly hope to build on this season and continue forging his path in the NBA.
He’s already proved he’s capable. The next step is earning a consistent role within the rotation for a full season and playoff run.
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This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
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