Heading into this season, Luka Garza’s spot on the Boston Celtics roster was anything but a sure thing. The 2021 second-round pick had bounced around the league, logging just 124 games over four years with the Detroit Pistons and Minnesota Timberwolves, scraping by on a measly 7.8 minutes per contest. But after inking a two-year, $5.26 million deal with the C’s in the offseason, Garza finally got his shot at redemption—and boy, has he cashed in.
With Boston’s frontcourt gutted by offseason departures, the door swung wide open for Garza to claim real minutes. The Celtics kicked off an under-the-radar battle for the backup center gig behind starter Neemias Queta, pitting Garza against grizzled vets like Chris Boucher and Xavier Tillman Sr. It didn’t take long for Garza to separate himself from the pack, flashing his scoring touch inside and rebounding prowess in those precious preseason reps.
Luka Garza: The Bench Beast Boston Didn’t See Coming
We’re only 13 games in, but Garza’s already staking his claim as the steal of the summer for the Celtics. In his backup role, he’s dropping career-high numbers: 7.3 points, 4.2 boards, and 0.5 blocks per game, all while drilling 57.4% from the field in just 14.2 minutes. This guy’s been a game-changer on both sides of the ball, but his work on the glass? That’s where he’s straight-up dominating.
Garza’s hauling in 2.5 offensive rebounds a night—good for 33rd in the league—and it’s flipped the script for a Celtics squad that started the year getting bullied on the boards. Early-season rebounding woes had fans sweating, but with Garza anchoring the second unit, Boston’s climbed to 13th in total rebounds (44.7 per game) and a stellar seventh in offensive boards (13.7). Over the last four games, he’s been on fire: 13 points, 6.8 rebounds, and four offensive grabs per outing, powering the C’s to a 3-1 run.
And let’s talk about the elephant in the room—Garza’s outshining the splashier offseason splash, Anfernee Simons. While Simons has flashed scoring bursts, his game’s been all over the map. Beyond the buckets, he’s dishing just 2.4 assists and grabbing 2.1 rebounds a game. Defensively? He’s shown flashes of hustle, but if the shots aren’t falling, he’s a liability. Case in point: In Sunday’s dub over the Clippers, Simons went scoreless with two dimes in 12 minutes. That kind of inconsistency? It’s a buzzkill, and it could tank his shot at a fat free-agent bag next summer.
Garza’s Evolving Game: From Rim Protector to Long-Range Sniper
Garza’s nailing the basics as that classic bruising big—scoring in the paint, crashing the boards—but he’s leveling up in a big way with his outside shot. A career 33.8% three-point shooter on 1.2 attempts before this year, Garza’s now splashing 38.1% from deep on 1.6 tries per game. He’s drained four triples in his last two outings alone. If this trend holds, expect head coach Joe Mazzulla to dial up more minutes for him in that high-octane “Mazzulla Ball” scheme.
Boston’s offense lives and dies by the three—they’re second in the league in attempts (44.4 per game) but just 22nd in accuracy (34%). Garza’s budding jumper could unlock the five-out sets that made the C’s unstoppable in years past, spacing the floor for slashers like Jaylen Brown and sharpshooters like Payton Pritchard. More space means more chaos for defenses, and Garza’s right in the middle of it.
Sure, he’s not the quickest big out there—those lumbering feet have their limits—but Garza’s flaws are few and far between. The one red flag? His foul trouble. Averaging 3.1 hacks per game, he’s already fouled out once. If that becomes a habit, Tillman or Boucher could sneak back into the mix.
But right now, Garza’s balling out every time he steps on the floor, proving he’s the real deal. Celtics fans, buckle up—Boston’s center rotation with Garza and Queta is locked and loaded for a deep run. This offseason gem isn’t just filling a role; he’s rewriting the script in Beantown.