The Boston Celtics big man put up solid and efficient minutes off the bench for Bosnia and Herzegovina in the FIBA World Cup Qualifiers.
The FIBA World Cup Qualifiers are currently underway and will continue through the mid-September.
Many NBA teams will have players currently on the roster represented on various international rosters, including the Boston Celtics.
Two representatives of the Celtics suited up for their respective countries in qualifying games Friday, including center Luka Garza, who came off the bench for Bosnia and Herzegovina in a game against Italy.
Bosnia and Herzegovina ultimately won the game 78-76, and Garza provided valuable minutes off the bench for his native country.
Garza played 15 minutes, 49 seconds off the bench for BH. In his slightly-over one quarter of play, he scored 10 points on 4-for-8 shooting from the floor and a 2-for-2 mark from the free-throw line. He also pulled in seven rebounds, two of which were offensive boards.
Garza will likely be a key depth piece for Boston as it looks to return to contender status in the Eastern Conference.
The BH native is in his fifth year in the NBA and second with the Celtics. He was a second-round pick in the 2021 NBA Draft by the Detroit Pistons.
Garza signed with Boston on a two-year, $5.5 million contract July 7, 2025, and received a career-high in games played, starts and average minutes played this past season.
In 69 games played (six starts), Garza averaged 8.1 points on 57.7% shooting from the floor (43.3% from 3-point range). He also averaged 4.1 rebounds and one assist per game.
Before this past season, Garza hadn't played in more than 39 games in a single season or averaged more than 12.2 minutes per game.
The Celtics saw first hand the importance of quality big men when it blew a 3-1 lead in the first round of the NBA playoffs to archrivals, the Philadelphia 76ers, when former NBA MVP Joel Embiid returned to the fold.
Boston fortified its frontcourt when it signed defending NBA champion Mitchell Robinson to a free-agent deal to protect the rim.
Robinson is expected to received the majority of minutes at center for Boston this season, but Garza's ability to put up valuable points off the bench while spacing the floor with his shooting capability will likely make him a valuable reserve, as well.
The Celtics will begin their regular season against Garza's former team, the Pistons, at 3 p.m. ET on Oct. 20 at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit.
