Luka Garza takes home prestigious honor at All-Star weekend

The Minnesota Timberwolves are enjoying their time of rest over All-Star weekend. When they hit the floor again to play their final 21 games, they will be taking on a grueling schedule with major postseason implications. The Wolves are going to need all the recovery they can get.

With Anthony Edwards earning his first All-Star selection, he has been the major name for Timberwolves fans to be excited about this weekend. But there is another player from Minnesota taking part in the festivities in Salt Lake City as well: Luka Garza.

The second-year big man has been playing on a two-way contract for the Wolves since the team picked him up last summer in free agency. He has not seen much playing time with the organization, but when he does get on the floor, the Minnesota faithful takes notice. Timberwolves fans’ excitement for Garza was born when he torched the Lakers in a preseason contest.

Luka Garza was named MVP of the NBA G-League ‘Next Up’ game

Since his preseason hype took Wolves fans by storm, Garza has been under a microscope in the best way possible. Any time he scores or does something remotely notable, the Timberwolves fanbase is ready at the drop of a hat to make him go viral.

His most recent accomplishment is certainly noteworthy. After being invited to NBA All-Star weekend to compete in the G-League’s ‘Next Up’ game, Garza took home MVP honors after his squad took down top draft prospect Scoot Henderson’s team.

The Timberwolves’ two-way star logged 23 points and grabbed eight rebounds in the game, while making nine of his 16 field goal attempts. It was a performance that confirms he has a future in the NBA.

Garza’s performance bodes well for his NBA future

This kind of outing for Garza in a game where so many eyes were on him is an excellent sign of things to come. But it should not come as a shock to those who have been watching him play in the G-League this season.

With the Iowa Wolves in 2022-23, Garza is putting up averages of 29.8 points and making 63% of his shots from the floor, including a ridiculous 50% clip from beyond the arc. If it is not already clear, it will soon become apparent that he is far too talented to be a career G-Leaguer. He belongs in the big league.

Earning the MVP award in this G-League showcase further confirms Luka Garza’s talent, and it could potentially end up being what propels him to earning a standard contract with the Minnesota Timberwolves this summer.