Luka Garza aiming to improve defense

"It was one of the biggest things that's happened in Indianola in a long time, I'll tell you that," Frank Garza, Luka's father, told CLNS Media/ Celtics Blog on the Celtics Daily Podcast last week.

While Mazzulla provided words of wisdom and moral support at one of Garza's two basketball camps in Iowa, Celtics assistant D.J. MacLeay visited Garza in his native Washington D.C. for defensive work with Boston 's big man.

Neemias Queta ascending to the starting center role last season and Mitchell Robinson 's arrival in free agency leaves Garza in a depth role entering 2026-27. However, he proved himself as a reliable NBA reserve last season. He averaged 8.1 points, 4.1 rebounds and 1.0 assist while shooting 57.7% from the field and 43.3% from three in 16.2 minutes per game during the regular season.