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BOSTON — Boston Celtics center Luka Garza always knew what kind of NBA player he could be. However, he never really had the chance to prove it, as he didn't play more than 39 games in a single season during his first four years in the league. That all changed when he arrived in Boston.
The Celtics quickly carved out a backup role for Garza, who excelled in that position and found his groove over the course of the 2025-26 campaign. His hard work, which was apparent in every one of the 69 contests he checked into, culminated in a magical (no pun intended) moment on Sunday night when the C's hosted the Orlando Magic at TD Garden.
With the game tied and less than 40 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter, Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla drew up a play for Garza. The first-year Green Teamer proceeded to deliver in the clutch, draining an improbable turnaround 3-pointer over Magic center Wendell Carter Jr. with 31.7 seconds left to propel the Celtics — who had just eight players available due to rest — to a 113-108 win.
"I think there are parts of my game that people didn't really know," Garza said in the locker room following the stunning victory. "Let's say my 3-point shooting...I've known for a long time how much work I put in it. I believe in myself, and I think I've shown that I can be a guy who can knock it down."
It felt poetic that Garza's incredible triple was the basket he needed to set a new career-high of 27 points. He also finished with a game-high 12 rebounds and was one of four Celtics to break their previous career-highs in scoring on Sunday.
"It's so awesome," Garza described of his dagger 3-pointer. "Seeing it go in, just feeling the crowd, too. It was definitely a top moment for me."
Although many questioned the Celtics' inexperienced group of big men before the season, Garza was part of the surprising answer that proved that position wasn't actually a weakness for Boston. In the process, he averaged a career-high 8.1 points per game, shot a career-high 57.7 percent from the floor, and earned the most playing time of his career.
"I think it was kind of my first real opportunity to show if I could be a rotational guy in this league," Garza said. "And I think I've shown that I'm a guy who can play every single night and a guy that's going to be ready when the opportunity comes."
Garza's next opportunity arrives on the NBA's biggest stage: the playoffs. While the Celtics don't know if they'll face the Philadelphia 76ers or the aforementioned Magic in the first round yet, Garza will bring the effort no matter what with hard screens, gritty rebounding, and smooth shooting.
"Offensive rebounding, screening have become my identity," Garza stated. "So I think that's the biggest thing. I feel like I've kind of found an identity in this league."
Listen to "Havlicek Stole the Pod" on:
Blue Wire: https://tiny.ee/CdKp
iTunes: https://tiny.ee/RK47
YouTube: https://tiny.ee/cOW3
This article originally appeared on Celtics Wire: Luka Garza knows he has what it takes to be a rotational player in the NBA
Continue reading...
The Celtics quickly carved out a backup role for Garza, who excelled in that position and found his groove over the course of the 2025-26 campaign. His hard work, which was apparent in every one of the 69 contests he checked into, culminated in a magical (no pun intended) moment on Sunday night when the C's hosted the Orlando Magic at TD Garden.
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With the game tied and less than 40 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter, Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla drew up a play for Garza. The first-year Green Teamer proceeded to deliver in the clutch, draining an improbable turnaround 3-pointer over Magic center Wendell Carter Jr. with 31.7 seconds left to propel the Celtics — who had just eight players available due to rest — to a 113-108 win.
"I think there are parts of my game that people didn't really know," Garza said in the locker room following the stunning victory. "Let's say my 3-point shooting...I've known for a long time how much work I put in it. I believe in myself, and I think I've shown that I can be a guy who can knock it down."
It felt poetic that Garza's incredible triple was the basket he needed to set a new career-high of 27 points. He also finished with a game-high 12 rebounds and was one of four Celtics to break their previous career-highs in scoring on Sunday.
"It's so awesome," Garza described of his dagger 3-pointer. "Seeing it go in, just feeling the crowd, too. It was definitely a top moment for me."
Although many questioned the Celtics' inexperienced group of big men before the season, Garza was part of the surprising answer that proved that position wasn't actually a weakness for Boston. In the process, he averaged a career-high 8.1 points per game, shot a career-high 57.7 percent from the floor, and earned the most playing time of his career.
"I think it was kind of my first real opportunity to show if I could be a rotational guy in this league," Garza said. "And I think I've shown that I'm a guy who can play every single night and a guy that's going to be ready when the opportunity comes."
Garza's next opportunity arrives on the NBA's biggest stage: the playoffs. While the Celtics don't know if they'll face the Philadelphia 76ers or the aforementioned Magic in the first round yet, Garza will bring the effort no matter what with hard screens, gritty rebounding, and smooth shooting.
"Offensive rebounding, screening have become my identity," Garza stated. "So I think that's the biggest thing. I feel like I've kind of found an identity in this league."
Listen to "Havlicek Stole the Pod" on:
Blue Wire: https://tiny.ee/CdKp
iTunes: https://tiny.ee/RK47
YouTube: https://tiny.ee/cOW3
This article originally appeared on Celtics Wire: Luka Garza knows he has what it takes to be a rotational player in the NBA
Continue reading...
