Cavaliers

Cavaliers’ Donovan Mitchell Goes Off On Darius Garland’s Critics

February 26, 2024

During an interview with NBA reporter Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com, Cleveland Cavaliers shooting guard Donovan Mitchell went off on Darius Garland‘s critics.

“The way people have been talking is f****** ridiculous,” Mitchell said. “It’s bullsh*t. It’s not fair.”

Garland is averaging 18.2 points, 2.3 rebounds and 6.2 assists this season while shooting 46.9% from the field, 33.9% from beyond the arc and 85.8% from the free-throw line. He has a plus-minus of +109.

“I’m on social media and I feel like people aren’t giving him the benefit of the doubt,” Mitchell said. “I want to speak on that because I think it’s bullsh*t. At the end of the day, he is a kid that has proven himself, not only to the Cleveland fanbase but this league as well. They’re ready to rag on a kid for, what, one half of a season? I think that is B.S.”

The Cavaliers are 37-19. They are in second place in the Eastern Conference standings.

Mitchell and Garland are one of the best backcourts in the NBA. They are averaging a combined 46.3 points this season.

Mitchell is averaging 28.1 points, 5.4 rebounds and 6.2 assists while shooting 47.2% overall, 36.3% from 3 and 86.7% from the foul line in his second season in Cleveland.

The Cavaliers are 16th in the NBA in points per game and second in points per game allowed. They look like legitimate title contenders with Mitchell, Garland, Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley leading the way.

Garland has career averages of 18.5 points, 2.6 rebounds and 6.7 assists with the Cavaliers. The one-time All-Star was the fifth overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft out of Vanderbilt.

The Cavaliers signed Garland to a five-year, $197 million extension in July 2022. Garland is making $34 million this season. He’ll make $36.7 million in 2024-25.

Mitchell has a player option worth $37 million for the 2025-26 season. The five-time All-Star can become an unrestricted free agent in the summer of 2025 if he declines that player option.

Mitchell signed a five-year, $163 million extension with the Utah Jazz in November 2020. He’s making $32.6 million this season and will make $34.8 million in 2024-25.