Darius Garland

 

Darius Kinnard Garland (born January 26, 2000) is an American professional basketball player for the Los Angeles Clippers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Standing 6 feet 1 inch (1.85 m) and weighing 192 pounds (87 kg), Garland plays point guard and shooting guard. He played college basketball for the Vanderbilt Commodores before being selected by the Cleveland Cavaliers with the fifth overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft. A two-time NBA All-Star (2022, 2025), Garland helped lead the Cavaliers to a franchise-record 64-18 regular season in 2024-25 before being traded to the Clippers in February 2026.

 

Early Life 

 

Garland was born in Gary, Indiana, to Felicia Garland and Winston Garland, a former NBA player who spent seven seasons in the league after playing college basketball at Missouri State. Darius grew up playing baseball and basketball, starting basketball at age five before focusing exclusively on the latter sport. In third grade, he attended basketball camps in Valparaiso, Indiana, led by Bryce Drew, who would later become his college coach at Vanderbilt.

 

High School Career

 

Garland attended Brentwood Academy in Brentwood, Tennessee, where he became one of the most decorated high school players in state history. As a junior in 2017, he averaged 23.4 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 2.1 steals, leading his team to a 30-2 record and state championship while earning Naismith Trophy High School All-America honorable mention and MaxPreps Junior All-American First Team honors.

 

As a senior, Garland averaged 27.6 points, 5.0 rebounds, 4.3 assists, and 1.7 steals, securing a fourth consecutive state title and tying the TSSAA record. He became only the second player, after Brandan Wright, to win Tennessee Mr. Basketball three times. He committed to Vanderbilt on November 13, 2017.

 

College Career

 

At Vanderbilt in 2018-19, Garland entered as the highest-rated recruit in program history. In his debut on November 6, 2018, he led all scorers with 24 points against Winthrop. On November 19, he scored a season-high 33 points against Liberty—the second-most by a freshman in school history.

 

However, on November 23, Garland injured his knee during a layup against Kent State and left the game early. Four days later, coach Bryce Drew announced Garland would miss the remainder of the season with a meniscus injury. In just five games, Garland averaged 16.2 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 2.6 assists while shooting 53.7% from the field and 47.8% from three-point range. He declared for the 2019 NBA Draft on January 22, 2019.

 

NBA Career

 

Cleveland Cavaliers (2019–2026)

 

Garland was selected fifth overall by Cleveland on June 20, 2019. In his rookie season, he averaged 12.3 points and 3.9 assists. On February 14, 2022, Garland was named to his first NBA All-Star Game at age 22, averaging 21.7 points and 8.6 assists. He finished third in Most Improved Player voting.

 

In the 2024-25 season, Garland was named to his second All-Star Game after averaging 21.6 points and 6.7 assists through the first two-thirds of the season, helping Cleveland achieve a franchise-record 64-18 regular season, the second-best in franchise history. On February 5, 2025, Garland hit a 31-foot buzzer-beater to defeat Detroit 118-115.

 

However, Garland suffered a left big toe sprain late in the season that hampered him during the playoffs, where Cleveland was upset by Indiana in the Eastern Conference Semifinals. On June 9, 2025, Garland underwent surgery on his toe with a four-to-five-month recovery timeline.

 

Los Angeles Clippers (2026–present)

 

On February 4, 2026, Garland and a second-round pick were traded to the Los Angeles Clippers in exchange for James Harden.

 

Personal Life

 

Garland’s father, Winston, played seven seasons in the NBA and later became a recreational leader at Indiana State Prison and a coach for West Side Leadership Academy in Gary, Indiana.

 

References

 

External Links

* Darius Garland on NBA.com

* Darius Garland on Basketball-Reference.com