The Cleveland Cavaliers have had a blistering start to the 2024-25 season. The Cavs improved to 11-0 with their Nov. 9 win over the Brooklyn Nets. Of course, Donovan Mitchell has been at the center of Cleveland’s success, but Darius Garland has gone on a run that has earned him high praise from the NBA.
Garland joined Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic as the NBA’s Player of the Week for his play spanning Nov. 4 and Nov. 10, the league announced on Monday. During that time frame, Garland averaged an impressive 25 points and 7.3 assists while shooting 61.7 percent from the field and 58 percent on his three-pointers.
On the season as a whole, Garland is averaging 20.5 points, 6.6 assists, and 1.2 steals per game on a 47.5 three-point shooting clip. The talented guard’s ascent is no surprise given his blunt message to those who doubted him after his down 2023-24 season.
“[I want to prove] that I’m better than last year,” Garland said, via Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com. “First and foremost, I just want to stay healthy and get back to being myself, playing with that joy again and doing the things that I’m used to doing. Hopefully have an All-Star, All-NBA type of season and try to help this team win as many games as possible like I know I can.”
Garland averaged 18.0 points and 6.5 assists during the 2023-24 campaign, his lowest since the 2020-21 season. Furthermore, he was cold during the 2024 playoffs despite the Cavs beating the Olrando Magic to make it out of the first round.
The sixth-year guard is on a mission to bounce back, and he is helping the Cavaliers have an unprecedented run while doing it. If Darius Garland and his backcourt running mate Donovan Mitchell continue their incredible production, there is no telling how far Cleveland can go.
As NBA Cup competition approaches, can the Cavs keep up their undefeated streak?
