Charlotte Hornets NBA Draft Profile: Luka Garza

The Charlotte Hornets own their own first-round pick and are owed second-round picks from the Brooklyn Nets and the Los Angeles Clippers. Over the next couple of months, leading up to the 2021 NBA Draft, Swarm & Sting will take a look at prospects hoping to hear their name called on draft night.

Age: 22

Height: 6′ 11″

Weight: 270 lbs

College Stats/Awards

Luka Garza started and appeared in 31 games for Iowa during the 2020-21 campaign. He averaged 24.1 points, 8.7 rebounds, 1.6 blocks while shooting 55.3% from the field and 44% from three. Over his four-year career which he started in 118 of the 127 games he played, Garza averaged 18.2 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks, shooting 54.6% from the field and 36.7% from three. At the end of this past season, Garza was named AP’s Men’s College Player of the Year and Sporting News Player of the Year. He became the first back-to-back winner of the Sporting News Player of the Year Award since Hornets’ owner Michael Jordan won in 1983 and 1984. Garza is the first player in Iowa history to twice be named the Big Ten Player of the Year and a consensus first-team All-American.

Primary Strengths

Garza is extremely talented and skilled. He has top-of-the-line size and strength. Garza scores well in the low post and is a very good finisher around the basket. He is a good rebounder and an average shot blocker. He plays with a tremendous motor and uses his body really well. Garza has developed an outside shot which should help him to create more value for himself to an NBA team.

Primary Weaknesses

Garza is not the best athlete, which has hurt him in the eyes of a lot of league evaluators. He struggles against those who measure at greater length than him and more athletic players. He lacks the mobility and speed that scouts look for in big men at the next level.

Draft Projection

Garza looks like a prospect that has been labeled a mid to late second round pick because he lacks mobility and speed, he can literally do everything else. Garza is a smart player who can score inside and outside and rebound the basketball; he’s also an average defender that can get better with the right coaching. There may be a few teams out there that may shock others and take Garza late in the first round.

The NBA announced on February 26 that for this draft only, all college players must declare their eligibility, regardless of class, if they wish to enter the draft. The NBA Draft Combine will be held on June 21–27. NCAA players have 10 days after the end of the combine to withdraw from the draft.

The draft lottery will be held on Tuesday, June 22 on ESPN. The 2021 NBA Draft will be held on Thursday, July 29 from the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. The draft will be televised on ABC (first-round only) and ESPN.