Los Wolves razed the Thunder In the third game of the playoffs of the final of the West Conference (143-101)in a meeting where it occurred A historical circumstance that went unnoticed initially for everyone, surely even for its unknown protagonist, But that shortly after the game revealed the prestigious American website StatMusespecialized in statistics.
Luka Garza, in a Wolves match.
The player in question is Luka Garza, wolves of the Wolves 2.08 my 26 years, who already left with the game determined and contributed to the beating of his team to the Thunder with 7 points (2/2 t2 and 1/1 t3) in the five minutes that was on the court. So far nothing abnormal if it was not because this American with a bosnian passport, with that record, It became the player with the best average points per minute in the history of the NBA playoffssurpassing two stars like Michael Jordan y Luka Doncic.
A point per minute in 11 playoff games
Garza, who played in his first season at the NBA With the Pistons (2021-22) Before being transferred to Wolvesplayed last campaign Seven playoff games scoring 29 points in 26 minutes. And in the present he has participated in Four matches, signing 9 points in 12 minuteswhich throws a total of 38 points in 36 minutes, A point per minute.
.
Exceed that averageeven with a tiny number of matches, To the legendary Michael Jordanthat during his career he played 179 playoff games, Written 5,987 points in 7,474 minutes, an average of 0.8 points per minute. Of course, the averages of 'Air' in those series parties for the title were huge: 33.4 points, 6.4 rebounds, 5.7 assists, 2.1 robberies and 0.9 caps in 41.8 minutes.
Also exceeds the Doncic record
And it also holds Garza gap a better average points per minute in playoffs than the second so far, Luka Donciceven active. The Slovenian, in his 55 series games for the title he has played between Mavericks and Lakers accredits 0.79 points per minute (1,697 points in 2,156 minutes). With also sidereals: 30.9 points, 9.2 rebounds, 7.8 assists, 1.6 robberies and 0.5 caps in 39.2 minutes.
.
Garza played Four seasons with the Hawkeyes of the University of Iowawith which he averaged 18.2 points, 7.3 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 1.2 caps per game. And was designated by Sporting News as University of the yearthe first player to repeat two consecutive years since he got it Michael Jordan in 1983 and 1984.
Luka Garza poses during the media Day of the Wolves.
Averaged in his senior season 24.1 points and 8.7 rebounds per gamebecoming the first player in the history of the Hawkeyes in repeating as Player of the Conference Year and All-American. Then he was chosen in the 52 of the 2021 draft by the Pistonswho cut him in June 2022. And after trying with the Blazers In the Summer League, he was signed by the Wolveswhere he turns his third season with averages of 3.5 points (49.5% TC), 1.4 rebounds and 0.3 assists in 39 games playing 5.6 minutes on average.
Basketball in genes
Although he was born in Washington and therefore he is American, His mother is Bosnia and he obtained the nationality of that country in 2021, debuting with his selection in 2023 in the Olympic preclassifier. Basketball runs through the veins of this player, since His father Frank played at the University of Idaho, and his mother, šejla (from single MUFTIVES), played professionally in Europe. In addition, his grandfather from his father, James Halmhe played university basketball with Hawaii. And his maternal uncle, Theoman Alibegovicwas the top scorer of all times of the basketball team of Slovenia.
