Cavs’ Darius Garland Rising To New Level Through First 11 Games: ‘He’s Got Everything’

November 11, 2024

Cavaliers point guard Darius Garland is a new man. Through 11 games, you could make the case that he’s been better this season than when he made the All-Star team.

It’s a small sample size, but you can just tell Garland is happier. You can see it on the floor and in the locker room. He’s admitted that “the joy” has returned after a rocky and injury-plagued year in 2023-24.

He has already taken over a few games, and his late-game showing vs. the Nets on Saturday is a big reason why the Cavs are 11-0 (entering Monday night vs. the Bulls).

“It doesn’t surprise me because of the talent and the smarts and what a great passer he is and good decision-maker,” coach Kenny Atkinson said. “He’s got the shot. He’s got everything.”

Garland is averaging 20.5 points and 6.6 assists, shooting a sizzling 53.8 percent from the field and 47.5 percent on 3-pointers. As his teammates can be quick to point out, he’s also been doing a nice job of taking care of the ball and setting up the offense.

There’s a reason the Cavs are unbeaten and it’s because everyone to a man has raised his game. But perhaps no one as much as Garland.

“He’s gonna keep playing like this,” fellow star guard Donovan Mitchell said. “This is who he is. And for me, it’s just amazing to see. … It’s only 11 games, but still, you can see it. There’s just a decisiveness about it you’ve seen from him. He’s done it all year.”

Garland has been patient, poised and calm in the clutch. He put that on full display by picking apart the Nets in the final four minutes on Saturday.

“I just took my time,” Garland said. “Got the right matchup I wanted and was just aggressive from there, just trying to make the right read.”

For the Cavaliers, this version of Garland can undoubtedly take them places.

“He’s a complete point guard,” Atkinson said. “Maybe last year there were some end-of-game [situations that] didn’t always go great. But from my point of view, just coaching him for the first time, I’m just blown away by his control of end-of-game situations.”