Luka Garza shares what has encouraged him about early opportunities with Celtics

The chance to make the jump Luka Garza saw teammates like Naz Reid and Nickeil Alexander-Walker make, going from sitting next to him at the end of the Minnesota Timberwolves' bench to carving out their place in the NBA, brought him to the Boston Celtics.

"There's a lot of opportunity, especially in the front court, with the guys that we have. I think the front office and the coaches believe in me and what I can do. So, I just saw that as really good for me at this stage of my career," Garza told Hardwood Houdini at Summer League.

The four-year veteran is averaging 6.2 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 0.5 blocks per game. The latter two exceed his career highs. That's no surprise, with his minutes rising to 14.3 per contest across Boston's first six tilts. The six-foot-10 center is also knocking down 36.4 percent of his 1.8 three-point attempts.

What stands out most when watching Garza is the energy he brings to the court. That has been prominently on display since he was earning multiple National Player of the Year honors at Iowa. Still, it's appreciated. He's consistent with that. He exudes passion when he's on the parquet. It also comes through in the glimpse the media gets into who he is off the court. It speaks to an individual determined to be their best self.

"I think something that's been consistent through my career is when I'm out there, I'm going to play as hard as I can. I've been happy with the level of effort and energy that I've brought every time I step on the floor," Garza told Hardwood Houdini after Monday's shoot-around as the Celtics prepare to host the Utah Jazz.

Deservedly proud of that consistency, the verbal picture he painted for what he aims to bring when he checks into a game was, "I want to be able to come off that bench and be kind of just jumping right on a 100-mile-hour treadmill and be able to withstand it and keep going and make an impact right away. I think that's what Joe [Mazzulla] expects from everyone."

But beyond a reliable and needed attribute, the 27-year-old from Washington, DC, shared what he is most encouraged by from the start of his tenure in Boston.

Luka Garza discusses his early-season growth

Garza has made an immediate impact as a screener. He is consistently paving a path for the Celtics' playmakers to step into jump shots or attack downhill. He has excellent timing when it comes to setting picks and releasing out of them, whether popping or rolling to the rim.

His contributions on the glass include an impressive 2.2 offensive rebounds per game. He's also giving his new team a floor-spacing five, something they lost when Al Horford and Kristaps Porzingis departed in the offseason.

Building off the infusion of energy he's providing, his ability to make an impact in those areas is a part of what he is most encouraged about as he adapts to a new system and mostly unfamiliar teammates, save for Josh Minott.

"I think I've done a good job of adapting and understanding how I can impact the flow, especially on the offensive end, just kind of getting guys in the rhythm with screening, or just my presence from the three-point line, or whatever it is. I think I've done a good job in that," Garza told Hardwood Houdini.

As for how he's acclimating to Boston's aggressive approach at the defensive end of the floor:

"I think defensively, I've been able to show and kind of be more of a playmaker, as they're saying, and get steals or protect the rim at another level than I have in my career. So, all those things kind of apply. I think it's obviously the first time in my career that I've gotten this much opportunities consistently, obviously to start a season. So, it's all new for me, but it's been so much fun, and I'm looking forward to continue to go out there and give them everything I have, every single opportunity I get."

It's no surprise to see Garza relishing this opportunity and pouring everything he has into it. The early returns are encouraging. They represent the initial ascent of a player giving his all to turn his chance with the Celtics into an elevated standing within the Association.