Iowans May Get to See Luka Garza Play in the Hawkeye State Again

After winning the Naismith Award for the National Player of the Year in 2020-2021, you'd think Luka Garza wouldn't have any trouble finding a spot for himself in the NBA.

As he and some fans have found out through his brief time in the pros so far, it hasn't been that easy. Playing high-level college ball doesn't always translate to a smooth NBA career.

Garza got his start at the next level when he was taken in the second round with the 52nd pick overall by the Detroit Pistons. In his rookie season with the team, the Washington, D.C. native put up 5.8 points and grabbed 3.1 rebounds in 32 games with Detroit.

In two of those games with Detroit, he put up a double-double -- first in a 117-116 overtime victory against the San Antonio Spurs when he put up 20 points and 14 rebounds, and again against the Philadelphia 76ers in a 118-106 loss where he scored 20 points and snagged 10 rebounds. He also scored 20 points in another game versus the Spurs but grabbed just six boards.

As a player on a two-way contract, he also spent time with the Piston's G-League affiliate, the Motor City Cruise. Over those five games with the team, Garza put up 25 points per contest, hauled in 8.3 rebounds, and dished out 2.3 assists.

After being cut by the team that selected him in June, he's on to his second team in two years (third if you count his summer league stint with the Portland Trail Blazers).

Garza is now officially a member of the Minnesota Timberwolves organization.

Though the terms of the contract have not been released, it's assumed that he will either be on an Exhibit-10 contract or a two-way deal.

Should he be signed to a two-way deal, he will likely play for the Timberwolves G-League affiliate, the Iowa Wolves.

The Wolves play in downtown Des Moines in Wells Fargo Arena. If he gets his chance to play with the team, Iowa fans will get to see him once again here in the Hawkeye State!

Garza isn't the only former Hawkeye basketball player to get good news today -- his former teammate Joe Wieskamp signed a multi-million dollar deal with another NBA team.