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HYDE PARK — A whole lot changed for the Celtics after the midseason trade deadline. It’s well-known that the team lost four players: Anfernee Simons, Xavier Tillman, Josh Minott, and Chris Boucher. But some of the players who weren’t traded saw their situations directly impacted, too.’
Luka Garza is one such example. Garza, who joined the team as a free agent last summer, had carved out a consistent role in the rotation when the Celtics opted to flip Simons for Nikola Vucevic in an effort to bolster their frontcourt.
At that point, Garza had played double-digit minutes in 25 consecutive games, establishing himself as Neemias Queta’s primary backup. Vucevic, a former All-Star and perennial NBA starter, was undoubtedly going to shoulder significant frontcourt responsibilities, and it was almost inevitable that Garza’s minutes would decline.
To Garza’s surprise, after the trade, teammates went out of their way to encourage and motivate him.
“When the Vooch trade happened, obviously, it was an amazing thing for our team, and he’s a great player,” Garza said on Tuesday afternoon at a court renovation in Hyde Park. “But obviously, guys know, as a team, that that would probably impact my minutes a little bit. And, I was just really surprised at some of the guys coming up to me and really just kind of giving me motivating thoughts and being like, ‘Hey, like, stay ready. We’re going to need you. You’ve done good things for us.’”
Garza was struck by the fact his teammates opted to so thoughtfully consider his situation in the aftermath of that trade.
“As people, as players, that’s the kind of guys that are in that locker room,” he said. “And for me, that really meant a lot. I’m always going to be the guy with a very positive mindset. But, when you hear things like that, it helps you a lot.”
Garza, who has been in the NBA since 2021, said the Celtics’ locker room stands out when it comes to off-court camaraderie.
Last week, for example, the team watched a movie together in Oklahoma City. And, players regularly grab food and discuss things unrelated to the game itself.
“Guys get more comfortable with each other as the season goes on — obviously, you’re on the road, you start going to dinner more, and just kind of learning more about each other.”
So, when adversity strikes, players know they can lean on one another.
“With this team, I think it’s honestly unique, just how close we are off the court,” he said. “Just everyone wanting to know about each other’s personal lives, and checking in, and all those kinds of things.”
