Luka Garza Is Making Life Easier For The Celtics

Hours before the Boston Celtics and Milwaukee Bucks faced off Wednesday night, Luka Garza was already getting to work. He joined the team’s Stay Ready crew, warming up alongside Mitchell Robinson and Jordan Walsh while his father, Frank, watched from courtside near the baseline.

Garza wasn’t in Boston’s Jayson Tatum-less starting lineup, but that didn’t matter. His routine remained the same.

That’s standard for Garza. Each night, he knows the moment could arrive when Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla calls his number. On Wednesday, it came early, with 5:37 remaining in the first quarter. He checked in for Hugo González and knocked down his first shot — a wide-open 3-pointer from the wing — to extend Boston’s lead over Milwaukee to 25-8.

Down the other end, less than a minute later, Garza came away with a steal. Payton Pritchard capitalized on the extra possession by draining a jumper. Garza knocked down each of his three 3-point attempts to lead the Celtics with 11 points at halftime. Mazzulla didn’t turn to him nearly as much in the second half, but he had already made his impact felt.

In just 18 minutes against Milwaukee, Garza reinforced his reliability.

He went from playing 8.9 minutes per game through the first five games of the season to averaging 18.7 over the last three against Orlando, Houston and Milwaukee. In return, Garza has rewarded Mazzulla’s increased deployment of the 27-year-old veteran, posting averages of 12.3 points, 4.7 rebounds, and two assists since the start of November.

Throughout it all, Garza has maintained his knack for creating second chances on the offensive glass. He’s grabbed 15 offensive rebounds, just behind Robinson (17) and Neemias Queta (18) for the team lead. He’s also re-emerged as a dangerous 3-point threat, much like last season. His 52.4% clip from beyond the arc leads the Celtics and ranks first among Eastern Conference centers averaging at least 2.6 attempts.

From the corners, Garza has shot 6-of-8, going 11-of-21 overall from three through the first eight games this season.

The drive-and-kick option for teammates like Paul George and Pritchard to find Garza on the perimeter was utilized Wednesday night, and it’s proven to be an effective one. Garza is Mazzulla’s best 3-point shooter among Boston’s centers, making him a legitimate outside shooting threat that opposing defenses can’t afford to leave unattended.

Entering a season where Queta vs. Robinson starting center debates dominated the discourse surrounding Boston’s front court, Garza has quietly made his case to play each night. He’s done his part to support the group amid Robinson’s early-season adjustment struggles by remaining prepared to contribute. And despite understanding what playing behind Queta and Robinson could mean for his minutes on any given night, Garza has emerged as a leader by example in Boston’s reserve unit.

The Celtics can call on him to perform alongside the starters while also counting on him to work with those coming off the bench. Garza occupies something of an older brother role in helping teammates navigate the same challenges he previously faced during his three-year stint with the Minnesota Timberwolves.

In Boston, he’s able to simultaneously shine and stay hungry.

It doesn’t take much for Garza to make a difference either. Sometimes it’ll go unnoticed when he battles for a second-chance opportunity because the Celtics fail to convert. Other times, he might not get the seven 3-point attempts he did in Houston. But the effort is always there.

This season, he’s averaging 7.5 points with 3.1 rebounds on 48.7 percent shooting. That doesn’t even begin to tell half the story of what he’s been doing on the floor.

The Celtics can’t offer Garza 60-plus starts, but the coaching staff remains vigilant at all times. His impact off the bench has been rewarded, sending the message that the team is well aware of what he’s brought to the table. That’s certainly encouraging for Garza, who’s begun to carve out a role in a Boston front court that was heavily considered crowded throughout much of the offseason.

So far, he’s found room.