LAS VEGAS — Luka Garza has been one of the Detroit Pistons‘ standout performers during summer league. Now, his role on next season’s roster has been formalized.
The Pistons have signed Garza to a two-way contract, according to a report from The Athletic’s Shams Charania. Garza has impressed the Pistons since the organization drafted him 52nd overall on July 29, and is coming off of his best performance in Las Vegas.
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Last Saturday against the Los Angeles Lakers, Garza scored 20 points, grabbed 14 rebounds and had a meme-worthy reaction after draining a stepback 3-pointer. It was a performance that recalled his four-year career at Iowa, which culminated with a national college player of the year in March and become the school’s all-time leading scorer.
“I knew for sure that coming out here, my mindset is to win,” Garza said on Saturday. “I’m trying to help my team win in any way I can. I want to show everybody that I can help the team win in the NBA. And obviously it’s the summer league, but I feel confident I can have this positive impact on the team in the regular season as well. Whatever role it is, I know for me it doesn’t matter. I’m going to get to where I want to go because I work as hard as I can, and I’m just really grateful that Detroit took a chance on me when obviously 51 other teams passed on me.”
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Garza will occupy the second two-way spot next season, after the Pistons signed former UCLA forward Chris Smith to a two-way contract on draft night.
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