Darius Garland speaks about his mindset coming into this season: ‘This year was literally a revenge season’

Cleveland Cavaliers point guard Darius Garland spoke about his mindset coming into this NBA season with teammate Tristan Thompson for Cleveland Magazine. 

Garland told Thompson that this season was a revenge tour for him. 

“It was, quote-unquote, the revenge season,” Garland said. “It’s a lot of people on the list that I wanted to get my get back, and a lot of people counted me out and doubted me from last year. So I just had that in my memory bank and just worked my butt off this summer. I was in the weight room a lot, trying to get my body back right. In the gym a lot, just trying to sharpen up my tools. But this year was literally a revenge season, just for all the doubters and the haters that just counted me out from last year with all the stuff I was going through. So this year, you’re getting a product from what everybody else was talking about last year.”

Garland made his second All-Star team this season. He’s averaging 20.7 points, 2.8 rebounds and 6.6 assists for the Cavaliers while shooting 47.4% from the field, 40.4% from beyond the arc and 88.2% from the free-throw line. 

Cleveland is first in the NBA in points per game and offensive rating under first-year head coach Kenny Atkinson.

Garland and Co. have a stellar record of 57-14. 

“My first couple years, I was just going out there and winging it because it was just a learning experience for me, just trying to get my feet wet,” Garland said. “But now, growing up, having some years under my belt, it’s really like, ‘Who’s my opponent? Who am I doing it for?’ Which is my family. Always in the back of my mind, I’m like, ‘My family’s watching,’ They really care, and they want me to do good. They want to see me do good, so I just go out there and just do it for them. ”

Cleveland drafted Garland with the fifth overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft.

Garland, 25, has career averages of 18.8 points, 2.6 rebounds and 6.7 assists.