After a long-anticipated wait, Darius Garland finally suited up for the Los Angeles Clippers following his move from the Cleveland Cavaliers in February. Garland posted 12 points, two rebounds, and two assists against the Golden State Warriors, and Kawhi Leonard shared his initial thoughts on the move.
Darius Garland Makes Impression on Kawhi Leonard
Speaking postgame, Leonard said, “Number one, just competitive nature… We’re going to be looking at him to get us involved, get him some shots, pushing the pace in transition for us, and just getting everybody involved.”
He added, “He’s an All-Star player. I’m just looking forward to playing more basketball with him.”
Leonard contributed 23 points as the Clippers overcame a 17-point deficit to beat the depleted Warriors 114-101 to improve to 29-31 for the season.
Garland hadn’t played since January 14 due to injuries to both of his big toes, specifically the grade 1 sprain to his right big toe. But he came back and showed glimpses of his All-Star ability in his Clippers debut. In his 23 minutes off the bench, Garland rejuvenated the Clippers’ offence following the departures of Harden and Ivica Zubac a month ago.
Kawhi Leonard on Darius Garland:
“Number one, just competitive nature… We’re gonna be looking at him to get us involved, get him some shots, pushing the pace in transition for us, and just getting everybody involved and calling sets so we’re not stagnant at times. I think he’s… pic.twitter.com/BiNgMCvgQv
— Joey Linn (@joeylinn_) March 3, 2026
The Clippers have gone 5-5 in their last 10 games since their All-Star pair left, and the much-needed return of Garland will breathe a sigh of relief for coach Ty Lue.
Speaking last month, Lue said, “He’s different from James, and we can play different with a faster pace. We can play him off the ball more. It’s going to be exciting. I’ve known DG for a while, and having a young point guard under my tutelage, I think it’s the first time I have had one since Kyrie [Irving].”
The two-time All-Star brings a reliable track record to the Clippers, posting 18 points, 6.9 assists, and 2.4 rebounds per night while playing 30.5 minutes. He’s made 36% from three-point range and 86.1% from the free-throw line across 26 games for the Cavaliers this season.
Garland is a shifty point guard who can spark an offense in an instant. He is primarily a playmaker and a floor general who can find Leonard in his most proficient spots.
At 26, Garland is 10 years younger than Harden and gives the Clippers a key piece to take forward long after this season ends. As we enter the business end of the season, the Clippers are still in the mix to clinch a playoff berth and potentially make a postseason run.
Garland’s new team sits ninth in the Western Conference, comfortably above the Memphis Grizzlies in 11th and seven games back from the Los Angeles Lakers in 6th. If Garland can quickly integrate his elite playmaking ability into the Clippers’ offence, can Leonard fire the team into contention?
