Luka Garza and Josh Minott deal with reporters for the primary time as Celtics

LAS VEGAS — Josh Minott and Luka Garza spoke to reporters for the primary time as Celtics at halfime of the Celtics’ Summer time League recreation in opposition to the Knicks.

For Garza, the choice to signal with Boston got here right down to each the potential alternative of carving out a task, and the franchise’s longstanding legacy.

“The franchise speaks for itself, simply the profitable and the historical past and I’m an enormous basketball junkie so clearly the possibility to placed on that uniform and play for the Celtics is enticing sufficient,” Garza mentioned. “However clearly, there’s a variety of alternative, particularly within the entrance court docket, with the fellows that we now have. I feel the entrance workplace and the coaches imagine in me and what I can do.”

The Celtics might be with out Kristaps Porzingis, Luke Kornet, and most certainly, Al Horford, subsequent season, so who will lead the group’s frontcourt rotation stays to be seen. Neemias Queta, Garza, and rookie Amari Williams at the moment headline the group’s frontcourt choices.

Garza, who’s 26 years outdated, has by no means gotten a lot of an on-court alternative within the NBA. Final 12 months, he appeared in simply 39 video games, averaging 5.6 minutes an evening.

He appears to be like ahead to a potentially-expanded alternative in Boston.

“It’s large,” Garza mentioned. “I really feel like I’ve realized a lot from my time in Minnesota from being round these kind of fellows. I feel it was time to seek out that chance to get on the ground. I felt like within the restricted alternatives that I used to be in a position to get, I used to be in a position to present properly and maximize these, however for me, it was a precedence for me to get to someplace the place I might get extra of these alternatives.”

And, whereas many are counting the Celtics out subsequent season, Garza mentioned the group appears to be like ahead to the chance.

“I feel everybody’s simply excited on the whole,” Garza mentioned. “Excited for the place we’re. [The Celtics have] form of been the hunted for a very long time, and now you could be the hunter and go after groups, and clearly there’s a lot alternative within the east simply with all the pieces occurring.”

Garza and Minott are making the transition to the Celtics collectively

Minott and Garza have been teammates on the Minnesota Timberwolves since 2022, when Minott was drafted and Garza signed his first normal contract.

However, the 2 didn’t coordinate each coming to Minnesota.

“I didn’t know,” Garza mentioned. “It was a shock, however I referred to as him straight away. We have been each excited. We’ve been via lots collectively.”

Minott mirrored on the messaging he’s obtained from Joe Mazzulla and the Celtics teaching employees to date.

“Nothing’s given,” Minott mentioned. “All the things’s earned. Don’t count on something, and actually, that’s all the pieces to me. I simply want the chance to get the possibility to show who I’m and present what I can do.”

The 22-year-old mentioned he’ll carry “that Minnesota protection” to Boston, a nod to the Timberwolves routinely having one of many NBA’s high defenses lately.

“Shit, I really feel like I can guard like one via 4, and possibly some fives,” Minott mentioned. “However I’d say one via 4 for positive.”