Bosnia's Basketball Federation is making a final push to reclassify NBA center Luka Garza as a domestic player. Backed by the Timberwolves and high-level officials, Garza's case could test FIBA's flexibility—and signal a new chapter in NBA-FIBA cooperation.
For over three years, the Basketball Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina has been entangled in a complex legal and administrative campaign to convince FIBA of what they believe should be self-evident: that Luka Garza—a second-generation Bosnian through his mother's family—is not a naturalized player, but a domestic one.
The 26-year-old Minnesota Timberwolves center, who was voted the NCAA Player of the Year in 2021 and the Big Ten Player of the Year twice, obtained his Bosnian passport in January 2022.
In 2023, he made his debut for the Bosnian national team during the FIBA Olympic Pre-Qualifying Tournament, delivering solid performances over five games.
However, despite his cultural and ancestral ties—and a citizenship process that began when he was a child—FIBA still classifies him as a naturalized player.
Under current FIBA rules, that restricts Bosnia to using only one such player in any competition roster.
With EuroBasket 2025 looming and Bosnia placed in one of the tournament's deepest groups, the timing of FIBA's re-evaluation could determine not only Garza's international future but also Bosnia's competitive ceiling.
From Sarajevo summers to the NBA
Despite being born in California, Garza's summers belonged to Bosnia.
"We spent two months every year there," Frank Garza says. "He speaks the language, he knows the culture. He's lived this life."
Garza's uncle, Teoman Alibegovic, was a former Oregon State standout who also played for Bosnia. Frank himself married into the family and never looked back.
Luka Garza himself has remained publicly silent throughout the process. He has never commented on the case through interviews or social media and has declined to speak on his FIBA status directly.
However, in his heartfelt letter to FIBA, he
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Giorgos Kyriakidis