Luka Garza just got his first taste of what it's like to be a Celtic

BRIGHTON, MA — “We want Luka! We want Luka!”

Chants echoed throughout the Track at New Balance on Thursday afternoon, as kids ranging from seven to 14 took part in the Jr. Celtics Academy summer camp, presented by New Balance. Luka Garza, one of the newest members of the Boston Celtics, jumped from group to group, aiding them in shooting competitions. Needless to say, he was a hot commodity.

As the campers pleaded Garza to join their team next, the 26-year-old egged them on. He pumped up the crowds and put his hand to his ear with a huge grin on his face.

Garza made his way from group to group, utilizing his 6-foot-10 frame as an inherent advantage in the shooting drills (though his teams went 0-2 to start, and one lost on a buzzer-beater a few games later).

Luka Garza just got his first taste of Boston

Later, Garza judged a team competition where each circle had to mimic the movement of one camper in the middle. “Jab,” the middle one would say, “JAB,” the others would yell in response. “Pump fake.” “PUMP FAKE.” In the end, the gray team won, though Garza admitted some collusion may have been involved.

“There was a little bit of a script behind it, I will say,” Garza said with a smile. “But I think, in general, they had a lot of energy and did a great job and deserved the win.”

By the end of Garza’s one-hour session with the campers, “Luka! Luka! Luka!” chants were still ringing throughout the venue.

Though Boston has only been home for Garza for a couple of weeks, he’s already eager to embed himself in the community. In his eyes, that’s what’s most important.

“Yeah, the energy was amazing. But yeah, this part is what it's all about,” Garza told reporters. “When I was a kid, and those guys came to camp, whoever it was, those are the guys that inspire you. Give you the examples of someone who worked hard, believed, and got to where you want to get to. So, I always try to do that as much as I can. Obviously, I do my own camps in the summer, mostly in Iowa, but I enjoy it a lot. It's a lot of fun. It's extremely rewarding.”

Garza is set up for some big opportunities in Boston this season, with Neemias Queta, Xavier Tillman, and himself holding down the center position for the Celtics. The work in front of him is daunting. Yet to kick off his time in the city, he made sure to start from the ground up.

Because that’s what matters.

“It's just super cool to see the love of the game,” Garza said. “That's always refreshing to see at any level you are, just kind of remembering where you were when you were that little, when you love the game.”