Luka Garza knows what it’s like to be on the outside looking in. He’s realistic about it. Garza was rarely in the rotation in his first four NBA seasons, so he’s well-versed in the art of staying ready behind the scenes. That’s been the story of his career so far.
So when Garza was again out of the Celtics rotation earlier this season, it was a familiar feeling. Of course, it wasn’t where he wanted to be. So he did the one that’s been consistent throughout his career: Work hard. And now that he’s re-entered the C’s rotation and excelled in his role, he believes he’s found the “recipes for success.”
“That’s screening,” Garza told MassLive. “Getting guys open. Creating offense for our team. It’s rebounding. It’s crashing on one side. Trying to get as many offensive rebounds, second-chance possessions I can for our team. On the other side, keeping my guy off, which is mostly kind of my role on the defensive glass and just boxing my guy out. Letting others come in and grab the rebounds and grabbing the ones that are there.”
Garza’s emergence is a huge plus for the Celtics as the league transitions into the thick of trade season. At the very least, it gives the C’s more options when looking at what deals to make. Whenever the C’s are mentioned in trade rumors, there’s the natural inclination that they need another big. Currently, the team only has two traditional big men in Garza and starter Neemias Queta.
Realistically, an upgrade at the backup big position would go a long way. They would be injury insurance in case one of Garza or Queta goes down. Another benefit would be flexibility. The Celtics have featured double big lineups in past seasons, but that’s not a usable look between Queta and Garza. Plus, having as many matchup possibilities would serve the Celtics well come the playoffs.
But don’t forget about Garza. He brings an edge physically with his size and his need to go get a loose ball. There are better big men out there, but there aren’t many guys who leave it all out on the court like Garza does on a nightly basis. So even if the Celtics add another big man, Garza could still be a contributor down the stretch.
“He works really hard,” C’s coach Joe Mazzulla said. “So if someone ever tells him he can’t do something, he’s probably going to work as hard as he can to make sure that gets fixed. That’s just who he is. He’s got a particular skillset in his ability to shoot the ball, his ability to score, his ability to rebound. He has a great knack for getting in-traffic rebounds, which I think is something that’s hard to do. And he works at the things he’s not great at.”
Garza started the season in the rotation, where he had his moments. But there were also the defensive struggles — another similar story throughout his career. Despite the technique and footwork that wowed the college game and made him a consensus National Player of the Year, his slow-footedness has been a consistent weakness. It’s one he needs to make up for on a nightly basis.
Garza went roughly a month without being in the rotation, a stretch of about eight games. He credited C’s assistant coach D.J. MacLeay for keeping him engaged over that stretch. Most importantly, he continued to work on what he could defensively to make sure he wasn’t a weak link on the court. As a big man, the position is too valuable defensively to be a negative.
“There were some things, especially defensively, just learn throughout that stretch of different ways that I can help myself,” Garza said. “Using my hands. Not fouling as much. Certain things that got me in trouble being a little bit too aggressive at different points earlier in the games. Or whatever the case may be. Not trying to get into any jumping competitions.”
Offensively, Garza has been relentless in aiding the Celtics. His ability to generate offensive rebounds and second-chance points helps out on the margins. He’s also shooting 13-for-26 (50%) on 3-pointers since Dec. 20, the first time he was back in the Celtics rotation. It’s not a huge sample size, but it helps keep defenses honest. He even got a shoutout from from WNBA star Caitlin Clark on social media.
Garza’s motor is also one that should endear him to any Celtics fan. There’s nothing that gets the TD Garden crowd on its feet than a hustle play. Garza’s game is full of that as, while he’s not the most graceful guy, it’s clear nobody is trying harder when on the court. Part of that is how the big man knows how quickly opportunities can be taken away from him.
The Celtics have long had a culture under Mazzulla of leaning on their bench guys unexpectedly. Garza credited that mentality as to how he was able to stay locked in when he wasn’t in the rotation. He knew playing time would come, he explained, which allowed him to trust the process. And now, he’s making the most of his rotation spot every time he touches the court.
“Joining the Celtics, there doesn’t need to be much of a sales pitch — especially with just the championship pedigree they have,” Garza said. “The biggest thing that they wanted from me was to kind of be a part of the championship culture and bring a positive mindset and be a leader in the ways that I can and work and kind of fit into the culture that they’ve created. That’s something that resonated.”