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Oh No He Didn't: Darius Garland's message to Clippers fans: "Be patient. It's a lot going on right now, but just worry about what's going on this year. Got a lot of new faces coming in, so we definitely have to be patient. Got to work through a lot of bumps and bruises, even though we wanna win games at a high rate. It's gonna happen. It's a long season, get better every game, will get better every year, and this too shall pass"
Oh No He Didn't: Darius Garland on whether he wants to be a face of a franchise: "It's definitely something that I want. I think I've been through a lot in this career and I think I'm ready to take on the reins of that, especially year 8. I think I've actually found myself a little bit, and I know where I wanna get to"
Oh No He Didn't: Marc Spears: "You still got that chip from Cleveland? Darius Garland: "Yeah, 1,000%. It wasn't even a trade, it was just everything that's happened. So everybody thought that I was just out of the league basically. But now I'm tryna get that spark back, tryna get back to the all star level that I'm used to being at"
Oh No He Didn't: Darius Garland on the Kawhi investigation and him being traded away: "It's a lot that happened. But this too shall pass. I was definitely kind of like surprised actually but I knew it was probably gonna happen sooner or later. But my mentality hasn't changed at all. When I got traded here last year, they wanted me to come and be a leader and be a spark. We could play faster, we can move the ball, push the pace. So my mindset and mentality hasn't changed. We actually gotten better"
Los Angeles Clippers guard Darius Garland donated $100,000 through his family foundation to the Greater Gary Storm Recovery and Relief Fund this summer as his home state of Indiana recovered from a devastating August storm. Garland wanted to aid the city where several of his family members and friends still live. “My mom [says], ‘This too shall pass,’” Garland, 26, told Andscape after Clippers practice at the University of Hawaii on Sept. 29. “So, that’s the same thing that’s going to happen here. We got the natural disasters going on. But we are going to get back up as we always do and just keep fighting. “And I’ve done that for myself my entire life, my career. I’ve had a lot of injuries, banged up, bumps and bruises. But I still keep my head up high, get back up and keep thriving and try to push through that wall.”
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“It’s a lot that happened,” Garland said. “But this too shall pass. I’m not really worried about this year. The next five years are really going to determine what happens. We stand in the present, stand where our feet are right now. That’s all we can do is just work, keep getting better and work with the guys that we have right now. So, day by day, [we’re] getting better every day.”
Garland — who had 15 points, six assists and three rebounds in his preseason debut against the Golden Stare Warriors on Sunday — is excited about his first opportunity to prove he can lead a franchise on and off the court. “I thought about it a little over the summertime,” Garland said. “It’s definitely something I want. I’ve been through a lot in this career and I’m ready to take on the reigns of that, especially in Year 8. I’ve actually found myself a little bit and I know where I want to get to. “And that’s a part of my plan, where I want to get better so I can get where I want to be. So, definitely, I’m ready for the opportunity.”
Garland was diagnosed with a Grade 1 sprain of his right big toe on Jan. 17 after diving for a loose ball against Philadelphia, sidelining him for more than a week. He had surgery to repair torn ligaments in his left big toe (severe turf toe/sprain) on June 9 that had hampered him through the end of the regular season and the playoffs. Now, Garland says his toes are healthy, which should allow him to regain his previous All-Star form. “Body is good. Toe is 100 percent,” Garland said. “I’ve been working a lot on that all summer. I’m ready to go, man, 100 percent. I’ve been in the lab [gym], working as much as I can, trying to get stronger. The conditioning feels really good.”
Ohm Youngmisuk: Ty Lue hasn’t named starters yet. When asked about center, Lue said he likes what Isaiah Jackson can do with Darius Garland with ability to get downhill and roll. Lue said Brook Lopez “will still be involved in that as well so we don’t quite know right now” on who will start.
Ohm Youngmisuk: Ty Lue said Darius Garland, Max Strus, Derrick Jones Jr., Rui Hachimura and Isaiah Jackson have worked on the first unit in the first two days of camp. Brook Lopez has been working with the second group but Lue said things will change when asked about Lopez with second unit.
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Joey Linn: Keaton Wagler has been challenging himself defensively in Clippers camp by guarding Darius Garland. “It’s all just effort on that side of the ball. It’s a want to. That’s been my main focus, trying to guard the best player each time I’m out here. I’ve been trying to guard Darius every time I can. JVG has been having me try to pick up full court.”
Joey Linn: Darius Garland expects the Clippers to shock people this season. “I think we’re gonna shock a lot of people. I think our season is gonna be surprising to a lot of people. We have really good chemistry so far and we haven’t even hit the season yet. Everybody has been in the gym at least 2-3 months now. We got the camaraderie going and the competitive spirit is gonna come out of us naturally. We got a lot of competitors, we got a lot of dogs on this team that can really go. With the brains of Ty Lue and our coaching staff, I think they’re gonna take us over the top. It’s super exciting. It’s gonna be a breath of fresh air for all of us. Especially after the season we had last year.”
Joey Linn: Max Strus on Darius Garland being in a situation where he is maybe the Clippers leader: “No maybes about it. That’s for sure. There is gonna be a lot riding on DG’s shoulders but we’re all here to support him and push him through that. He’s capable of it. He’s a hell of basketball player… I’m excited to see him fully healthy and get us a full look at DG this season.” Said he has the ability to control the whole room with his leadership and energy.
Joey Linn: Yuki Kawamura is excited to be around Darius Garland and Keaton Wagler, and also play against Steph Curry in Hawaii: “I’m learning from great point guards right now. I’m figuring out how I can help the team… it’s gonna be great for me.” On playing Curry and the Warriors: “He’s a superstar. I’m super excited to play against him. I have to prove myself during the preseason to get the contract. But I don’t want to focus on it. I just want to play the right way every single possession for the team.”
