This year’s All-Star Weekend is special for Cleveland Cavs All-Star Darius Garland. After returning from a jaw injury in 2024-25, Garland was grateful to participate in the 3-Point Contest at All-Star Saturday Night. Garland will also join his All-Star teammates Donovan Mitchell and Evan Mobley, but he honored his dad during Saturday’s shooting event.
Garland advanced to the final round of the 3-Point Contest, honoring his dad with a special jersey, per The Athletic’s Joe Vardon.
“Darius Garland also advanced to the final round. He wore a No. 22 Cavs jersey (his number is 10) to honor his father, Winston, who wore 22 when he played for the Golden State Warriors in 1990,” Vardon reported.
First-time All-Star Tyler Herro tied for fourth in threes this season, dethroned defending champion Milwaukee Bucks All-Star Damian Lillard by one point in the first round. Then, he narrowly defeated Golden State Warriors’ Buddy Hield by a single point.
Before the event, Garland discussed the significance of his return, considering where he was last year with his jaw wired amid an injury that plagued his 2023-24 campaign, per NBATV.
“Just super excited being out here with so much talent, with some of the greatest fans,” Garland said. “Super excited, super fun being here. It’s a blessing being here. So I’m excited. I’m happy.”
Amid a second All-Star selection and a successful campaign for the Eastern Conference-leading Cavs, Garland admits it’s a significant difference compared to where he was last year.
“It’s a big difference,” Garland said. “It’s crazy what a year can do for you. Just being here now and thinking about what I was doing last year is definitely a blessing. It’s cool to see what God can do in just one year. I’m super happy to be here. I’m blessed.”
Garland and Mobley will be representing the Cavs while playing for Team Kenny in Sunday’s All-Star Game.
Donovan Mitchell’s blunt take on Spurs’ duo in Skills Challenge
Cary Edmondson-Imagn Images
Before Cavs All-Star Darius Garland participated in Saturday’s 3-Point Contest, his All-Star teammates Donovan Mitchell and Evan Mobley participated in the NBA’s Skill Challenge and won. After the victory, Mitchell discussed the Spurs’ Victor Wembanyama and Chris Paul’s disqualification in his interview with TNT’s Allie LaForce.
While giving the duo credit for abiding by the rules in theory, Mitchell still labeled Wembanyama’s intentional misses from behind the three-point arc and at the free-throw line as cheating, per X, formerly Twitter.
“They play to win. They play by the rules. But it was definitely cheating though,” Mitchell said.
Wembanyama and Paul were the first contestants in the competition.
