Luka Garza spent part of his offseason back where his basketball rise really took shape, and this time he brought a Celtics twist with him.
Garza returned to Iowa to host the second Luka Garza Academy Skills camp of the summer in Indianola, giving young players several hours of basketball instruction along with a question-and-answer session. Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla made the trip to the Hawkeye State as well, surprising the kids at the event and underscoring how much attention Garza’s connection to Iowa still draws.
For Garza, the visit was about more than running a camp. It was another chance to acknowledge the place that helped shape him into the player he became.
“It just means an incredible amount to me and my family,” Garza said. “I feel like my life changed when I came here, and I was able to get to my dreams and goals because of the University of Iowa and because of what I was able to learn here, because of the way I was able to develop here.”
That gratitude has been a constant for Garza, who built his name over four seasons at Iowa before moving on to the NBA. He capped his college career with a massive senior season in 2020-21, averaging 24.1 points and 8.7 rebounds while collecting several national player of the year honors. Iowa later retired his No. 55 jersey.
His path to Boston came by way of the Detroit Pistons, who took him with the 52nd overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft. After multiple seasons with the Minnesota Timberwolves, Garza joined the Celtics, where his offensive skill set gives Boston another center who can score inside and stretch the floor. Scoring around the basket and knocking down shots from beyond the arc have long been his calling cards.
Now Garza is in position to compete for a role on a reshaped Boston roster heading into the 2026-27 season. Mazzulla’s appearance at the camp added another layer to the day, a notable sign of support from a coach who took the time to see the Iowa side of Garza’s story up close.
Garza said the bond with the state remains strong because of the people who backed him along the way.
“I think within that time here, the people here that supported me, that kind of put their arms around me and pushed me every single day,” Garza said. “I always feel like I owe something to them.”
That sense of obligation is part of what drives the camp itself, giving Garza a way to pass along what he learned to the next wave of players.
“For me, every summer is trying to come and give back a little bit because I know how much was given to me in my time here,” Garza said.
Garza’s future is in Boston, but his offseason made one thing clear: his Iowa ties are still very much alive. Mazzulla’s surprise visit only reinforced that connection.
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