Frank Garza on how son Luka remade his game, body to set up Boston Celtics success
"He had to change. I mean it was one of those, well what do we do (moments)," said the elder Garza.
When backup Boston Celtics big man Luka Garza was playing in the college level, his interior game was almost unstoppable, the Washington DC native a recipient of a national college player of the year award, and numerous accolades for his offensive impact inside with the Iowa Hawkeyes. Still, even with a trophy case the envy of many a player to his name, even his father Frank knew the interior game would not be enough for Garza at the NBA level. "Now listen, here's the big dude.
Won every reward, every award unanimously his senior year -- every one -- from Kareem to Pete Newell to all of them. Armstrong and Senior of the Year, all that stuff. To having his father and his (career) architect saying this won't translate," said the elder Garza in an interview with the Celtics Chronicle Adam Taylor.
"And here we are today," "You go from a prolific scorer, he's got 21, he's added a few more, probably 25 finishes at the rim," said Frank. "He has a foul shot, a skyhook which is rarely seen. He has ability to score that's prolific.
" "And yet we don't need him for that; the Celtics don't need him for that ... He doesn't need to score," said Garza of his son. "So what does he do?