Former Hawkeye Luka Garza exits NBA rookie season with a flourish

Last season’s college National Player of the Year has 20 points, 10 rebounds in Detroit Pistons’ season-finale

Apr. 11, 2022 11:01 am, Updated: Apr. 11, 2022 12:10 pm

Phoenix Suns forward Ish Wainright (12) and Detroit Pistons center Luka Garza (55) pursue a rebound during an NBA game in Detroit on Jan. 16. (Carlos Osario/Associated Press)

Luka Garza gave the Detroit Pistons something good to remember him by this offseason.

The rookie from Iowa played 31 minutes, scored 20 points, and had 10 rebounds and four assists in the Pistons’ 118-106 season-ending loss to the Philadelphia 76ers Sunday.

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The 20 points matched Garza’s NBA high, which he also hit in Dec. 26 and Jan. 1 games against the San Antonio Spurs. At that time, he was getting extended minutes because of a COVID-19 wave that was putting many players in protocol.

Garza was a second-round draft pick of Detroit last year and originally signed a two-way contract, but it was converted to a standard contract before the season began.

He divided his season between the Pistons and their G League affiliate in Detroit, the Motor City Cruise. He got in 32 games with the Pistons, averaging 12.2 minutes, 5.8 points and 3.1 rebounds. He started five games.

Garza played in 16 games for Motor City, pouring in 20.6 points per game and averaging 9.7 rebounds.

He is under contract with the Pistons for next season.

Another 2021 second-round pick from Iowa, forward Joe Wieskamp, will get to witness at least one postseason game this year.

Wieskamp’s San Antonio Spurs play the New Orleans Pelicans Wednesday in a play-in game, with the winner advancing to play for a spot in the Western Conference playoffs Friday.

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Wieskamp’s season was similar to Garza’s. He was on a two-way contract until March 4 when the Spurs converted his deal to a standard contract. He appeared in 29 games with San Antonio, averaging 7.1 minutes and 2.1 points. He played in the team’s last five regular-season games.

His season-high was 13 points in a Jan. 4 game at Toronto. He played 22 minutes Saturday in the Spurs’ game against Golden State.

Wieskamp played in 15 games for the Spurs’ G League team in Austin. He averaged 17.1 points and 33.5 minutes. He made 43 of 117 3-pointers for 36.8 percent. He averaged 1.6 steals.

A third ex-Hawkeye played in the NBA this season. Tyler Cook spent the year on a two-way contract with the Chicago Bulls, his fifth NBA team in his three pro seasons.

Cook got into 20 games with Chicago, averaging 10 minutes and 3.4 points. He played in 17 games with the Bulls’ Windy City G League affiliate in suburban Chicago, averaging 28 minutes, 17.2 points and 7.6 rebounds.

Cook scored 11 points for Chicago in 17 minutes in a game against Houston last Dec. 20.