The Cleveland Cavaliers have been rolling as of late, with their dynamic duo of Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland leading the way. Mitchell in particular has been on fire, as he’s scored 40 points in three straight games, helping the Cavs maintain their stranglehold on the four seed in the Eastern Conference. But even amid Mitchell’s hot streak, Garland found a way to get praised by head coach JB Bickerstaff for being a great teammate.
Garland is a finalist for the Twyman-Stokes Teammate of the Year Award, and his contributions in Cleveland’s locker room are continuing to earn him some high praise. Bickerstaff noted that some young All-Star players may not have been happy to see Mitchell added to their team, but Garland has been the model teammate when it comes to accepting him on their team, which is a big reason for the Cavs success.
“This whole year is an example of what a great teammate he is. When you are a 23-year-old kid who’s just kind of coming into your own, coming off an All-Star year, he could have very easily felt some kind of way about Donovan coming and joining this team. He could have continued through the year to feel some kind of way about Donovan’s shots, Donovan’s attention, Donovan’s successes. But he never once had any concern, any issue with that. All he’s ever done is support, and I think that speaks to who he is as a person and as a teammate.” – J.B. Bickerstaff, Akron Beacon Journal
Garland and Mitchell’s ability to play alongside each other in the backcourt has been a huge help for the Cavs this season, and they look likely to lead Cleveland on a deep playoff run. The Cavs still have a lot they will be looking to accomplish this season, but with these two stars leading the way, Cleveland will be a very tough out come playoff time.