Cavaliers’ Garland reaches another level
‘Has star written all over him’, says Cavs’ Love
Los Angeles Clippers coach Tyronn Lue still remembers what agent Rich Paul told him about Cleveland Cavaliers point guard Darius Garland.
At the time, Lue wasn't buying it. “Rich Paul told me, ‘Man, I'm telling you, this kid is going to be really good,' and I'm like, ‘Yeah, OK,' ” Lue, the former Cavs coach, recalled.
Asked why he was skeptical about Garland, the fifth overall pick in the 2019 draft, Lue said, “I really don't watch college basketball. I would like to, but we don't get a chance. You know Rich, any of his clients, they're the best thing in the world.
“But he was right about this young kid, and the biggest thing, he's a really good kid, too. You're happy to see guys that are really good people succeed the way he has. He's special.”
When it comes to Garland's college career, Lue wouldn't have seen much. Garland, now 22, played only five games at
Vanderbilt before suffering a seasonending knee injury.
Paul's prophecy has been fulfilled this season, with Garland selected to his first All-star Game. Being named to USA Basketball's Select Team that practiced in Las Vegas before the Tokyo Olympics and
then being promoted to play a few games with Team USA was the confidence boost Garland needed to take his game to the next level.
As the Cavs make a playoff push in hopes of securing a top-six seed in the Eastern Conference, Garland has carried an even bigger load and played at a higher level. Garland has been unfazed and is averaging 21.4 points and 8.6 assists per game.
“He's made for this. He's built for it,” Cavs five-time All-star forward Kevin Love said. “He has a confidence about him that has allowed him to step into a leadership role right away . ... . But there's even more levels to this. I think he's just gonna continue to grow. He hasn't even scratched the surface of really how good he can be. Has star written all over him and I know he's gonna get there because of the type of person he is.”
What's happened of late is not a coincidence, Cavs coach J.B. Bickerstaff said.
“It's what you see in this league when guys start to believe in themselves at a higher level,” Bickerstaff said. “And it's interesting how it starts a lot of times with USA Basketball. Guys are there and they're playing with the best of the best and they see that they belong with the best of the best.”
When asked after a March 12 loss at Chicago what he tells Garland about the double-teams he's now drawing, Love said, “What I'd say to him is, ‘Welcome to stardom.' That's how it's going to be, and he accepts it.”