There have been bigger, faster, and stronger players at this school. There’s been better NBA players. There will never be another Luka Garza. He is the best player to ever play at the University of Iowa.
Luka Garza is the best player to ever play for the university of Iowa
- Thread starter HawkeyeInCentralIowa
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I always thought Ronnie Lester was the GOAT. Grew up watching him, he was the best point guard I’ve seen in college. Amazing poise, unequaled quickness, amazing ball handler and passer. Made all of his teammates 2x better. Garza is the new GOAT. Just incredible unstoppable force.
I would give 1st to Luka because he should be POY in all of college. Roy Marble, Ronnie Lester, JJ, Downtown Fred Brown are all greats. Basketball before the 70s is its own category. Different game back then.
Right now, Ronnie has the edge.
* Led Iowa to the 1979 B1G Championship
* Led Iowa to the 1980 Final 4
* When you compare apples to apples, Ronnie actually scored more. Ronnie played in just 99 games. And when you compare to Luka's first 99 games?
Ronnie Lester: 1,675 (4 yrs: 1977-1980, 99 GP, .471 FG%,, 16.9 ppg)
Luka Garza: 1,661 (3 yrs: 2018-2020, 99 GP, .552 FG%, 16.8 ppg; 81 three pt goals)
Also, I think some might be blinded by regency bias.
JJ and Downtown had some good seasons. Sam Williams had some numbers. Given the same number of games as Luka they may have scored more, but Luka for a career has the stats. I’d want to see the tourney results before I knight him the best ever. Ronnie was Awesome at running the team and being the Man. It’s been a pleasure to watch them all.
What a hard worker Garza is. He personifies what a lot of us expect in an Iowa player when it comes to growth and tenacity.
I have a feeling that #55 will be hanging next to #10 in the rafters of CHA by next year. Especially if he is not robbed of NPOTY.
He is the best college player any Iowa school has ever produced. To argue otherwise is dumb. Has there ever been another consensus first team all American back to back years? Plus, the Big 10 has been the best conference the past 2 years and he missed all the cupcakes this year OOC (besides ISU) and will be player of the year back to back years in the Big 10. He will probably be player of the year in all b-ball this year after runner-up last year. He won’t be the best pro, or most athletic player, etc. But he will graduate with more accolades than any college player ever in the State’s history. And it isn’t close.
He should have beat out Obi Toppin last year too. What he did in the B1G last year was insane.
Back to back 1st team All American. POY runner-up last year and potential POY this year makes a pretty good argument for all-time greatest. Add to that breaking Roy's scoring record. I love Ronnie. Let's see how the post-season goes. It's really close.
To be clear, I am basing it on what pundits say. Was he better than Ronnie, Roy or an ISU player, opinions vary. But to my knowledge neither Iowa or ISU had a player consensus 1st team AA back to back years while playing in the best conference and probably winning the Wooden this year after being runner up last year. I don’t know how on that it is even arguable.
I wonder the ages of the people posting about Garza. Luka deserves every accolade you can give him.
But if you didn't see Ronnie play.... Well... You didn't see Ronnie play
But if you didn't see Ronnie play.... Well... You didn't see Ronnie play
To say “and it isn’t close” is, to use your own word: dumb.
I’m not saying he ISN’T the best (although I give Lester the edge), but arguments can certainly be made for others.
If the Hawks make the Final Four, then yes....definitely.
Post season doesn’t matter. It is a team game. Ronnie had some damn good players on the team with him that helped get to the Final Four. Roy had several dam good players on the team with him to get to the Elite Eight. Talking about needing postseason success is like saying Eli Manning is an all time great because he won two rings. The rest of the team had something to do with this wins. Luka was robbed of a potential sweet sixteen run last year. Let’s hope they don’t cancel the tourney this year and the team plays up to their potential.
What I’ve seen is Luka is the best player in the country this year. And he was last year too, Obi was good but wasn’t the best. There’s likely a future NBA HOFer playing college ball this year, and Luka is better than him right now in college whoever that turns out to be. This is unheard of and likely will not be seen again.
What I’ve seen is Luka is the best player in the country this year. And he was last year too, Obi was good but wasn’t the best. There’s likely a future NBA HOFer playing college ball this year, and Luka is better than him right now in college whoever that turns out to be. This is unheard of and likely will not be seen again.
I am 50 and did see Ronnie play. Like I said, I am not saying Luka is the best player. I am saying he will be the most decorated player either school ever produced. That was my comment. And on accolades it isn’t even close. Hell Lewis Lloyd at Drake was better than Garza on the floor. I assume you remember “black magic” but was simply saying he is the best the state ever with his accolades.
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anon_b29nm7v7dwp6r
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He’s certainly right there, I didn’t get a chance to follow Lester....but by all accounts he would probably be the guy I would take if starting a program, however Luka would be right there too
You are correct that it is a team game. But do not discount the post season.
You say Lester had good players to “help” him get to the Final Four. I would say you have it backward.....Lester is the one who got the Hawks to the Final Four.
Think back......with Lester out injured, Iowa was only 10-8 in Big 10 play. He returns and Iowa gets to the FF. In the semi-final, Iowa is playing the eventual National Champ Louisville, even. Lester gets injured, and that’s ballgame. They then proceed to get blown out in the consolation game.
Without Lester, Iowa was a better than average team. With Lester, they were National Championship calibre.
To be fair, you did say this:
“He is the best college player any Iowa school has ever produced.”
Once again and 83 Hawk that ripped me above, there are better players including Ronnie than Luka IMO. I said “not even close” based on accolades. JFC can people read? Was Ronnie or any other player from either school back to back consensus 1st team all Americans? Has either team had a player win the Wooden 1 year after finishing runner up? All while playing in the best conference without the benefit this year of padding stats in the OOC? I said I don’t think Luka is the “best” player ever on the floor. I said based on accolades it isn’t close. So if that is dumb I suggest you show me who had better accolades. Hell show many how many players in all of college after the early 80’s that had better accolades let alone just Iowa and ISU players.
You are right and I went on to explain it was based on accolades in support of that position.
83 - I think there are “better” players however we can define that. Eye test, how far the team goes, atheism, stats, draft spot, etc. and I wasn’t clear. I wasn’t simply saying assuming he wins the Wooden there would not be a more decorated player from Iowa or ISU. Maybe a better way of putting it.
Personally, I don't care who gets crowned the GOAT. And like I said above, Ronnie played in just 99 games and when you compare Luka's first 99 games to Ronnie's 99 TOTAL GAMES, Ronnie's numbers are slightly better.
And to further play devil's advocate:
I know a lot of Hawk fans who still say Ronnie is the GOAT, because, just as you described, HE was not only a great player who has his number hanging in the rafters, he made EVERYONE around him great.
And all of that GREATNESS led to a B1G Championship & a Final Four.
There was a TON of preseason talk from this year's players that they would win the B1G this year.
Talk is cheap.
Ronnie actually walked the walk.
that's why its so hard to determine the GOAT, imo
different eras. different # of games played. 3 point shot now. shot clock now.
hell, Don Nelson played just 72 games in his Iowa career. Imagine if he got to play 130 or more games, just like today's kids do?
Nelson...1,522 career points (3 yrs: 1960-1962, 72 Games Played, .507 FG%, 21.2 ppg
Winning NPOY is a little different in 2021 compared to the 70’s or 80’s because of how many players go pro now after 1 or 2 years. Still a great accomplishment but if you look at the quality of the All American lists from back in the day they are full of upperclassmen that went on to be stars in the pro.
Just 48 (or 49) games played for all 3.
Imagine if there had been a 3 point shot back then.
Sam Williams...1,176 pts (2 yrs: 1967-1968, 49 GP, .466 FG%, 24 ppg)
John Johnson...1,172 pts (2 yrs: 1969-1970, 49 GP, .543 FG%, 23.9 ppg)
Fred Brown...1,091 pts (2 yrs: 1970-1971, 48 GP, .501 FG%, 22.7 ppg)
It’s an apples to oranges comparison. Luka is a big man and Lester was a PG. The fact that Lester made everybody around him better and elevated the team to a championship contender only serves to show how important guard play is in basketball. Not many have played the 5 at the college level as well for as long as Garza has. The GOAT can be whoever you want it to be. I’m not old enough to have seen Lester play, so I’ll take Luka
You should use Luka's last 3 years if you want to do this. What's next, counting minutes?
Luka has taken a hell of a beating physically over his time at Iowa and has not missed a game. That counts a TON IMHO.
Fran - I totally agree. Hell maybe the best player I ever saw at Iowa played 1 year (Ray Thompson). I was saying that based on awards nobody from either school will touch Luka. I will say one player who doesn’t get enough love is Andre W. Damn he was good.
that's why I brought up recency bias.
hell, people are now watching Kaitlyn Clark and are saying she will be the GOAT for women's basketball. I just laugh, because, hell, didn't we just crown Megan the GOAT?
Michael Jordan the GOAT? Or Lebron? Hell, some people will say it's Kareem!
Debate away. @Moral and I will pop the popcorn.
Name the sport, there will be a debate.
Now that you mention it. Why not?Do you think Luka gets a statue next to Fran's?
