Bosnia and Herzegovina is stuck at the bottom of Group J with a 2-4 record in the 2027 FIBA World Cup Qualifiers, and it is a tough spot to be in, but don’t count out Boston Celtics center Luka Garza and his squad just yet. This guy is putting in serious work this summer, making sure his game is absolutely sharp for moments just like this.
Garza’s Summer Grind Is Seriously Legit
You wanna talk dedication? Garza’s summer has been a full-on masterclass in commitment. He is grinding it out everywhere from Iowa to Los Angeles, and he is even representing his home country, Bosnia and Herzegovina, on the global stage. Even though Bosnia is at the bottom of Group J, Garza has only suited up for two of those games. And when he did play, he showed up huge. Back in early July, he helped keep things super tight against Turkey and Serbia, who are both straight-up European powerhouses. In those two competitive losses, Garza averaged an insane 21.5 points per game, shooting a ridiculous 57.7 percent from the field. That is the kind of fire he brings, and you know he is hungry for more.
Italy’s Coming To Town, And The Stakes Couldn’t Be Higher
More than a month after those battles, Garza and Bosnia are back in action, and this is a must-win. They are facing Italy on Friday at 2 p.m. ET in Tuzla, Bosnia’s third-largest city, and the home crowd is going to be absolutely electric. Why so hyped? Bosnia is hunting for its first-ever win against Italy, who historically hold a perfect 5-0 record against the Dragons. Italy is not just a historical problem, either, they are currently 5-1 in group play and stacked with talent like Miami Heat forward Simone Fontecchio and former NBAers Nicolò Melli and Nico Mannion. For Bosnia, it is all about their big men, Garza and Jusuf Nurkić, who is arguably the nation’s best modern player. These two are carrying the hopes of a nation on their shoulders.
If Garza and company cannot pull out a win against Italy, reaching the 2027 FIBA World Cup in Qatar gets exponentially harder. The Dragons have never, not once, qualified for a FIBA World Cup. This Friday’s game is more than just another qualifier; it is a chance to make history, to show the world what these guys are made of, and to keep that World Cup dream alive. You know Garza is going to leave everything he has out there.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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