Luka Garza, the former Iowa Hawkeyes standout and consensus 2021 National Player of the Year, embarked on a transformative journey to adapt his game and physique for the demands of the NBA. His story is one of perseverance, adaptation, and unwavering self-belief.
Early Success and the Transition to the NBA
Garza's arrival at Iowa was nothing out of the ordinary. He met the upperclassmen, most notably former Timberwolf Tyler Cook, whose mentorship he would depend on going forward; Garza also planned out workouts with trainers, put in hours in the weight room, and got ready to play any role he could as a freshman. In fact, it was the underclassmen that would drive the next era of Iowa basketball after Cook departed for the NBA. Garza would man the middle, with Joe Wieskamp next to him. Connor McCaffery and Jordan Bohannon would manage everything outside. It was that slow build throughout a few recruiting classes that led to sustainable success.
Garza's college career reached its pinnacle during the 2020-2021 season, where he showcased his dominance, earning numerous accolades and leading Iowa to a 22-9 record and a No. 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament. He improved with consecutive 20-win seasons in 2018 and 2019 after a lackluster 14-19 in Garza’s freshman year, it seemed that all signs pointed to Iowa becoming a regular March Madness entrant. The missing piece was not on the court, but in the locker room. The players loved each other. They loved Hawkeyes Head Coach Fran McCaffery (how could they not? For two of them, that was their dad). But how would they move forward in a conference without having someone at the front? So, without much fuss but with all required intentionality, Luka filled the void. He mentored a freshman Keegan Murray, and toured him around campus in the way Tyler had done for him. He was the first one in and the last one out of the gym. He once again changed his game, becoming a more capable passer from the post. What followed was nothing short of amazing.
Despite his collegiate success, Garza faced skepticism from NBA scouts regarding his ability to defend players of all sizes at the professional level. Concerns arose about his near-three hundred pound frame and lacking foot speed. As someone who had been crowned as the best player in college basketball, the uninitiated would think that Garza was a guaranteed top pick, or at the very least a first round selection. However, after workouts for almost every team, it became clear that Luka was a question mark to even get drafted. He began focusing on teams with multiple second round picks.
The Weight Loss Transformation
Recognizing the need to adapt, Garza committed to transforming his body and game. He embarked on a weight loss journey, shedding nearly 30 pounds from his early-April weight of 271 by the time of the NBA Combine. This significant reduction aimed to address concerns about his mobility and agility on the court.
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"I just understood it was a necessary change and I had to change my body … the way I was playing and the guys I was going against, it’s not what you see all the time in the league and for me, I needed to try to maximize my athleticism and my foot speed within the NBA,” he said.
Garza's dedication to improving his physique demonstrated his commitment to meeting the demands of the NBA and silencing doubts about his potential. Another thing that’s been important for NBA teams to see from Garza is his outside-shooting range. Garza connected on 44% of his 100 3-point attempts as an Iowa senior, and he thinks that plus his renowned work ethic have him positioned for a great shot to make an NBA roster.
Draft Night and the Detroit Pistons
On July 29th, 2021, Luka Garza became the next member of the Detroit Pistons. Going from the 100th ranked prospect to the 52nd overall pick is still a fantastic honor. In Luka’s own words, “being the 52nd Pick was something that, first of all, I was proud of just make it to the NBA. It’s something that I’ve always dreamed of something that a lot of people didn’t think was possible.” But, as a second round pick, Garza was by no means a lock to make the active roster.
Luka entered Summer League without a contract for anything after the month of July. That changed after five games. Garza averaged 15 points a game with almost 10 rebounds, while also shooting over 40% from three point range, made second team all-Summer League, and signed a two-way contract. “A couple of months later, right before training camp, I was able to get a two year deal. So for me, it’s kind of been the story of everything. Wherever I end up I have to continue to show and prove that I that I belong there. And for me, there’s nothing better.”
However, Garza's initial experience with the Pistons presented challenges. As a two-way player, his playing time was limited, and his traditional post game didn't fully translate to the fast-paced NBA style.
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Thus began a change most athletes must make when they take a jump in talent level. In college, Luka had feasted on mismatches both inside and on the perimeter, much to the success of the team around him. But, with the encouragement of a Pistons organization pushing him to change who he had been to that point, he embarked on a journey of erosion and rediscovery.
G-League Success and Continued Evolution
Despite the setbacks, Garza persevered, showcasing his talent in the G-League. He earned G-League All-Rookie team honors and was recognized as one of the league's 15 best players. In his final NBA game of the regular season with the Pistons, Garza demonstrated his progress, achieving career highs with 20 points, 10 rebounds, and four assists.
Garza made the G-League All-Rookie team, along with being listed as one of the G-League’s 15 best players as a member of the all-G-League third team. In his final NBA game of the regular season, Garza set multiple career highs with a 20-point, 10-rebound, four-assist performance. He was starting to figure it out, just like he had in high school, just like he had in college. Luka Garza was changing who he was, while still being himself.
Joining the Minnesota Timberwolves
After being released by the Pistons, Garza signed with the Minnesota Timberwolves, reuniting him with familiar faces and providing a new opportunity to showcase his evolved game.
The Pistons unceremoniously cut Garza on June 28th. But, he shockingly (or un-shockingly at this point) took it in stride. “I didn’t know if I was gonna be on a two-way on a regular deal or shipped overseas,” Garza said. “I wanted to (be) somebody with the same mindset I’ve always had and I was able to show everyone that I belong at this level.”
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Two years after he earned the Wooden Award, which crowns the best player in college basketball, one year after his career-saving masterclass at NBA Summer League, and just months into a full transformation of body, style, and role, Garza was cut loose. Even with his Iowa number 55 set to be retired into the rafters in February, an honor only three other players have ever earned, Luka spent his offseason without a roster spot.
“[Tim Connelly’d] known me since I was in high school and stuff like that. So for me, it was a familiarity there. And, I was happy that I got an opportunity to come here for training camp,” Garza said on the hero of his summer, Timberwolves President of Basketball Operations Tim Connelly.
The head of the Wolves’ front office is a Baltimore, Maryland native who knows the D.C. high school scene well. While Connelly spent the summer leveraging the team’s future on a different big man, the opportunity he created for Garza has to be seen as an unabashedly good move during in his first year at the helm.
Return to Iowa and Fan Support
The Timberwolves' G-League affiliate's arena in Des Moines, Iowa, provided Garza with a unique opportunity to play in front of Hawkeyes fans once again, creating a special connection and sense of belonging.
Maybe part of that equation was the return to Iowa. The Timberwolves G-League affiliate’s arena sits in Des Moines, just two hours from where Luka used to dominate in Iowa City. Location shouldn’t have the most on-court impact, but what stood out to Garza, and what has helped in this new environment, is finally playing in front of the Hawkeyes fans he hadn’t been able to see for three years.
“One of the most special parts about this year is being able to go back and play in the state of Iowa. I didn’t think I’d ever have that chance again. So, to be able to do that, it means a lot for me, especially because my senior year there were no fans at our games. So to get a chance to go down there and play in front of the Hawkeye fans and have a pretty good crowd down there at Wells Fargo Arena, that was definitely really important to me be able to do that.”