Darius Garland has had quite the NBA career. After playing five games in college, the Cleveland Cavaliers took him with the fifth overall pick in 2019. He had a rough rookie season and was the league’s worst player by most metrics.
Garland made great strides over the next two seasons, earning his first All-Star selection in 2022. He battled injuries in 2024, but bounced back to earn his second All-Star nod in 2025, a big reason why the Cavs won 64 games.
Garland seemed to be on track for a big playoff run, before injuring his toe in game two against the Heat and he was never the same after that.
He ended up getting offseason surgery on that toe and when he came back this season, he was clearly affected. It led to Garland injuring his other toe and his lack of availability caused Cleveland to pull the plug and trade him to the LA Clippers, where Garland seems to be the right fit.
The Clippers look smarter by the day for taking a chance on Darius Garland
Garland’s impact has been nothing short of sensational during the first part of his Clippers tenure. Through 11 games, LA is 8-3 in the games he plays, and have a 127.9 offensive rating with Garland on the court.
On an individual level, Garland has been efficient. He is averaging 21 points per game, and seven assists on 52 percent shooting and 51 percent from three-point range. Those splits will likely average out at some point with a larger sample size, but his efficient scoring and playmaking have been on full display.
Garland is at his best when he is operating in space, in the pick-and-roll, and when he can push the pace. His crafty handle and his ability to create at any angle are two of his best qualities. He has made life easier for Kawhi Leonard, Bennedict Mathurin, and others.
We have also seen Clippers head coach Ty Lue have success with point guards in the past, most notably Kyrie Irving during his time with the Cavs. Lue could have a similar impact on Garland and we are seeing the results of that thus far.
If Garland can keep his clean bill of health, then this was a home run trade for the Clippers. While the Cavs have having their own success with Harden, Garland is ten years younger, and has a longer runway in the league. If he can keep this up, then the next era of LA basketball should be a fun one.