Rookie passed by a “two-way contract” on the side of Detroit, Luka Garza is on the revival in Minnesota, in a workforce where there is very heavy under the panels with the Towns-Gobert pair. Not an easy deal a priori, but when the two are absent, he can show himself like this night against the Lakers with 15 points and 4 rebounds in just twelve minutes. Already against the Clippers, he had stood out, being decisive in the “money time”.
“One of the most unreal moments of my life! »
In front of the audience of Los Angeles stars, and in particular Floyd “Money” Mayweather, Garza fired all the woods, turning several times towards the retiree from the rings after his successes from afar. To the delight of his bench, hilarious, as well as commentators, including Richard Jefferson for ESPN.
Garza explains the origin of their complicity: “It was in Los Angeles [lors de ma saison rookie]it was half-time, he narrates in the podcast of wbsnsports, a show with former teammates in Iowa. “I was warming up and well, there are still quite a few stars in the front row, including Floyd Mayweather who was right there. And I warm up, I send my shots. »
“I see him waving in my direction. I keep shooting, I tell myself that it’s not possible, it can’t be for me. Gift [Cunningham] was nearby, he will see it. But Cade comes back and he tells me that Floyd wants to talk to me. I do not believe it ! What, talk to me? What is happening ? I go there quietly and he says to me: man, you are a real player, I followed you at university, I love your game. You have to go back on the field and get your baskets! I told him that’s what I was trying to do. It was one of the most unreal moments of my life! »
A perfect player for Finch’s system
Relegated to the rank of fifth interior rotation, Garza attests both to the depth of the Wolves squad, and in particular to their racket, but also to the difficulty he will have to find minutes behind the Goberts, Towns, Reid and even Nathan Knight.
In any case, Chris Finch has confirmed that he sees interesting potential in the profile of the former best university player in the country. With his address from afar and his screen pose, on the pick & pop, Garza can clearly claim a substitute role over the course of the long regular season.
“He fits perfectly into the system for us,” explains Finch. “It’s a very good acquisition from the front office because he’s a guy who can really grow in our system. He can stretch defenses but he can also score near the circle. It’s a great combination. Few interiors can do that. »
| Luka Garza | Percentage | Bounces | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Crew | GM | Minimum | Shots | 3 points | LF | Off | Def | Early | pd | party | Int | bp | CT | Points |
| 2021-22 | TED | 32 | 12 | 44.9 | 32.7 | 62.3 | 1.8 | 1.3 | 3.1 | 0.6 | 1.7 | 0.3 | 0.6 | 0.2 | 5.8 |
| Total | 32 | 12 | 44.9 | 32.7 | 62.3 | 1.8 | 1.3 | 3.1 | 0.6 | 1.7 | 0.3 | 0.6 | 0.2 | 5.8 | |