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Luka Garza bringing energy and perspective to Timberwolves

jace frederick, pioneer press
·4 min read
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Listen to Luka Garza’s postgame comments and you’d swear you’re hearing the thoughts of a 10-year NBA veteran. In just his second season of professional basketball, the recently-turned 24-year-old big man is thorough and thoughtful with his media responses.

The end-of-the-bench big has only recently started to see any type of meaningful minutes — a product of Minnesota’s shorthanded roster getting ravaged by illness and injuries. Yet Garza, who has watched much of the season play out from the pine, offers valuable perspectives on the Timberwolves’ recent five-game losing skid.

“We are better than we’re playing. A lot of these games are going down to the wire. There’s no team that we’re playing that looks like they’re way better than us. We’re in every game. We’re right there to the end every single game, and I think that’s something,” Garza said. “But at the end of the day, you’ve got to get those wins. We’ve got to do the little things, because they’re close games and the details matter.”

It’s a response that both recognizes the team needs to be better while also pointing out that all is not doom and gloom. Minnesota, Garza noted, looks fantastic for large portions of the game, but lets go of the rope at critical junctures. That’s where the Timberwolves need to be better. A coach couldn’t offer up a more insightful, poignant remark.

Garza delves into the team’s rebounding issues by noting that while most nights, it’s on the guards and wings to rebound better around Rudy Gobert, but then indicates Friday’s debacle in Milwaukee — in which the Wolves were outrebounded 68 to 36 — was due to a lackluster performance from the bigs, starting with himself.

“We had a lot of guys getting boards and I think us bigs have got to do a little better job fighting on the glass and boxing out. I think as a team I think just a level of competitiveness. When the ball goes up to get a rebound, we can all do a better job,” Garza said. “Tonight, for me to play 18 minutes and only have one defensive rebound is something I’m going to feel bad about moving forward.”

And aim to correct. Garza said when his next opportunity arrived, the University of Iowa product would make a point to grab more boards, or at least box his man out so a teammate could get the rebound. That next opportunity always appears to be right around the corner. Garza is on a two-way contract this season — a deal that’s designed to have a player bounce between the NBA team and it’s G-League affiliate. Garza was wonderful in his first start with the Iowa Wolves this season, but he’s proving to be a necessary asset to Minnesota.

The Timberwolves’ front court continues to drop guys. Karl-Anthony Towns remains out with a right calf strain expected to shelf him for at least a couple more weeks. Rudy Gobert missed Friday’s game in Milwaukee via illness. Gobert and Naz Reid are prone to foul trouble on any night. Prior to Saturday’s game against Detroit, Garza had already played in seven games this month.

This isn’t Garza’s first rodeo. As a rookie, the center played in 32 games for the Pistons — starting five contests during a COVID season that tested every team’s depth.

“You never know when your name is going to get called. I’ve only been in the league, Year 2, but everyone’s number gets called at some point, it’s just how the league works. You’ve got 17 guys and injuries happen, people get sick, people get hurt, people miss a game here (and there),” Garza said. “Obviously last year with COVID, I experienced having to be ready for whatever with guys getting COVID in front of me. So I just wanted to get out there and play as hard as I could and try to make an impact on the game in a positive way.”

Garza believes he did that Friday. Reid’s foul trouble led to Garza playing a season-high 18 minutes. Yes, the center wished he would’ve rebounded better, but he did score 16 points in what he called a confidence-boosting performance.

“Luka did a good job battling. he got us a some second-shot opportunities,” Timberwolves coach Chris Finch said. “Finished well around the rim.”

Garza said Finch has been preaching that everyone needs to stay ready — a message the center again realized the importance of when seeing more run a couple weeks ago against Chicago.

“But (Friday) it was different, the most ready I was and I really lived up to that and was ready to go from the jump,” Garza said. “That’s what you’ve got to do as someone in my position.”

Another veteran response.

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