Iowa
| HT/WT/WS | 6' 11", 265lbs |
| Age | 22 |
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Really hard for me to get on board the Luka Garza train. The dude was good this year for 2 reasons; his ability to physically overpower basically everybody, and the fact that the coach let him do post plays every position. Neither of those things will happen in the NBA. He will get picked apart on defense, and his conditioning will be a bit of a laughing stock. He gets picked due to production but he has zero star potential IMO.
Comparison: Kaminsky
Ceiling: Bjelica + Kanter
Floor: Jeff withey
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I've changed my stance on Garza for the time being. His defense has been blasted throughout the year, and that's exactly what's left him falling on this board. But I'm encouraged that he lost 20 pounds of weight and is getting near 230 lb. He should be much quicker than he was at Iowa and should have a bit more vertical pop than he did at Iowa. He's also changed his craft: he's more of a stretch big at this point then a post player, which gives him solid role player potential. Will be a locker room leader who will set an example for teammates on and off the court with a hard work ethic and a big heart.
Projected draft range: 45-60
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6''11 with a 7''1 wingspan. An absolute tank, looks even bigger than he is. A WHOPPING 12.5 OBPM! Will bang with anybody and always finds his man to box out. Might be a top pick in the 1995 draft. Uses his physicality to collect FTA, 9+ per 40 at 70%. Shooting 43% from 3 on 4+ Att per 40. Strong shooting base, a nice shooting stroke and follow through. 3+ ORBD per game the last two years and 11+ RBD per 40. Good feel for passing 2.4 AST per 40 this year and only 1.9 TO with a usage over 33%. Footspeed hinders his defensive potential. Try as he does he can not always contain guys with room to operate between the high post, low post, and baseline. Teams will try to exploit Garza on PNR, if he can diminish the narrative that he is liability here his potential to impact a game skyrockets, but if he can''t handle himself defensively he will be a limited in his role.
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Comparisons: Myles Turner, Nikola Vucevic
Luka (No Doncic) Garza retired his No.55 in Iowa by averging 22 points, 15 rebounds and 5 assists with 3 blocks. One of my favorite players in this draft.
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Obviously won’t go this high but I think everybody sleepin on this dude. IMO he’s the most nba ready especially for teams that could use a C like the Lakers, Celtics, or Raptors.
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He has been unstoppable on offense in the low post. Maybe favorite to become POY thus far due to padded stats. Garza is a big hustle player who has just flat out good overall skills. His style of play is a bit old school, but hey - paint players might be making a come back. At worst he is Ryan Anderson/Tyler Hansborough with his ability to make hustle plays, rebound or even knock down an outside jumper. He is among the oldest prospect of this draft class. His ceiling is only so high and his stamina is rather questionable. He has been outplayed against better competition.
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TEAM Iowa YEAR Senior POSITION C HEIGHT 6''11" WEIGHT 265 lbs AGE 22.39 yrs DRAFT AGE 22.48 yrs BIRTHDATE Dec 27, 1998 NATION USA HOMETOWN Washington, DC HIGH SCHOOL Maret School 2020-21 PER GAME AVERAGES G 31 MP 31.5 FG% .553 3P% .440 FT% .709 REB 8.7 AST 1.7 BLK 1.6 STL 0.7 TO 1.5 PTS 24.1
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Luka Garza has had arguably the best college career in Iowa history. He has been a Wooden Award Finalist for the past 2 seasons. Garze averaged an absolutely outstanding 24 points and about 9 rebounds per game. He is extremely athletic which is surprising because he has a big 6''11 265 frame. Although his game worked in college, will it work at the next level, in the NBA? Some people are very high on Luka Garza. And some people are very low on Luka Garza. Nobody really has a real idea of what this kid will be in the NBA