The Utah Jazz are planning to try out the Dominican national team player Andersson Garcia for a limited stretch. The team officially announced the signing of Dominican forward Andersson Garcia to a 10-day contract on Wednesday, 11 March 2026. The move comes on the heels of Garcia’s breakout performance in the FIBA World Cup 2027 Americas Qualifiers, where he helped lead the Dominican Republic to a historic victory over the United States.
On 26 February 2026, the Dominican national team stunned the basketball world by defeating Team USA 87-79 at the Frontwave Arena in Oceanside, California. It marked the first time the Dominican Republic had beaten the US senior team in a qualifying match since 1989.
Garcia, a 6’7″ forward known for his relentless rebounding, was a central figure in the upset. He recorded 14 points and 7 rebounds (6-of-6 from the field) in 22 minutes of play. His defensive versatility and energy on the offensive glass, where the Dominicans secured 16 rebounds, reportedly caught the eye of NBA scouts in attendance.
A path through the G League
While the win over Team USA served as a high-profile catalyst, Garcia’s path to the NBA was paved by a dominant season in the NBA G League with the Mexico City Capitanes. Before his call-up, the Moca native had averaged 10.9 points per game, 9.8 rebounds per game and 12 double-doubles in 35 appearances.
The Jazz front office, looking for defensive depth after waiving Vince Williams Jr. on 9 March 2026, turned to Garcia to fill the void. Andersson becomes the third Dominican player to receive a call-up through the Capitanes franchise. Before the Utah Jazz hosted the New York Knicks at the Delta Center in downtown Salt Lake City, the home team had announced a roster move. Utah’s front office officially announced the acquisition on Tuesday, March 11.
What’s next?
Garcia’s 10-day contract runs through 20 March 2026. During this window, he is expected to be available for the Jazz’s upcoming slate of games, providing him a chance to earn a second 10-day stint or a rest-of-season deal. For the Dominican Republic, Garcia’s rise reinforces the growing strength of the national program as the team sits tied for first in Group A of the World Cup Qualifiers.
It’s an exciting moment for Dominican basketball. Seeing a player like Andersson Garcia leverage a massive international upset into an NBA opportunity is exactly the kind of “scout’s dream” story that fans love.
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12 March 2026