Luka Garza

Garza is a Bosnian-American center who entered the NBA after one of the most decorated college careers in Iowa history. Named the consensus national player of the year for the 2020-21 season, he also earned consensus first-team All-American honors as a junior and Big Ten Player of the Year twice. He plays for the Boston Celtics and represents Bosnia and Herzegovina on the international stage.

Born Luka Hudson Garza on December 27, 1998, in Washington, D.C., Garza grew up in Reston, Virginia. His father, Frank, is Spanish-American and played college basketball for Idaho. His mother, Šejla Muftić, is from Bosnia and Herzegovina and played professional basketball in Europe. Garza learned the game from his father, studying tapes of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and attempting to recreate their post moves.

Garza attended Maret School in Washington, D.C., where he was coached by Chuck Driesell, son of Hall of Fame coach Lefty Driesell. As a senior, he averaged 24.6 points, 11.7 rebounds, and 2.5 blocks per game, led Maret to the DCSAA title game, and earned D.C. Gatorade Player of the Year honors. He left as the school's all-time leading scorer with 1,993 points. A four-star recruit, he committed to Iowa over Georgetown, Georgia, and Notre Dame.

At Iowa, Garza became one of the most productive big men in college basketball. As a freshman, he averaged 12.1 points and 6.4 rebounds. He underwent surgery to remove a nine-pound cyst attached to his spleen before his sophomore season. As a junior, he averaged 23.9 points and 9.8 rebounds, was named Big Ten Player of the Year, and earned consensus first-team All-American honors. He returned for his senior season, won every major national player of the year award, and became Iowa's all-time leading scorer.

Garza went undrafted in 2021 but signed with the Detroit Pistons. He has since played for the Minnesota Timberwolves and Boston Celtics, carving out a role as a scoring big man off the bench. He represents Bosnia and Herzegovina internationally, eligible through his mother.

Garza is a throwback center with elite post skills, a soft touch around the rim, and a developing three-point shot. His footwork, counter moves, and ability to score through contact make him a difficult matchup in the post. Defensively, he is limited by mobility but compensates with positioning and effort. His offensive skill set is among the most refined of any bench big in the league.