Darius Garland says he ‘got my joy back’ after trade from Cavs to Clippers

Darius Garland isn’t looking back.

Appearing recently on the Ball in the Family Podcast, the former Cavaliers guard spoke candidly about his first few months with the Clippers and suggested the move to Los Angeles helped him rediscover what he loves most about basketball.

“I got my joy back,” Garland said.

That’s a pretty powerful statement from a player who spent nearly six seasons in Cleveland and developed into a two-time All-Star before being traded to the Clippers in February as part of the deal that brought James Harden to the Cavaliers.

Garland made it clear he enjoyed his time with the Cavs. But he also acknowledged that his role in Los Angeles has allowed him to return to being more of a traditional lead guard.

“Coming to a system where I can actually be me,” Garland said. “Have the ball in my hand for the majority of the game and actually have control of the pace of the game. Just be like a second coach out there.”

It’s easy to understand where Garland is coming from.

After Donovan Mitchell arrived in Cleveland in 2022, Garland remained highly productive, earning another All-Star selection and helping the Cavs become one of the Eastern Conference’s top teams. But he also shared primary ball-handling duties and often played off the ball more than he had earlier in his career.

With the Clippers, Garland immediately returned to a featured role. His usage rate climbed significantly following the trade, and he averaged 21.7 points and 8.6 assists while helping Los Angeles reach the Play-In Tournament.

Interestingly enough, Garland also addressed the criticism smaller backcourts often face.

He noted that he heard similar concerns when he first arrived in Cleveland alongside Collin Sexton, then again when Mitchell joined the Cavaliers.

“They’re going to say whatever,” Garland said.

The Cavs, meanwhile, reached the Eastern Conference finals for the first time since 2018 after acquiring Harden, suggesting both sides may have benefited from the blockbuster deal.

Sometimes, that’s exactly how a trade is supposed to work.