SAN FRANCISCO — Darius Garland’s smile disappeared.
Literally.
Metaphorically.
The Cleveland Cavaliers guard had broken his jaw against Boston on Dec. 14, 2023, and post-surgery, it was wired shut so that it could heal properly. He didn’t eat the same way, using a straw for meals. Lost 10% of his body weight. Didn’t communicate the same way, couldn’t talk. Couldn’t be around the team the same way, and he loves being around his teammates. Couldn’t play, and basketball brings him so much joy. He had to watch Cleveland’s success from afar.
On top of that, he wasn’t having the kind of season that made him an All-Star in 2022.
“The mental part was the toughest,” Garland told USA TODAY Sports, “not being able to do the things I normally do.”
The joy and the smile are back. Garland earned an All-Star spot this season and is an integral part of one of the NBA’s best stories.
The Cavaliers are atop the Eastern Conference with the league’s best record at 52-10 heading into Friday night’s game against the Charlotte Hornets. They are eight games ahead of the Boston Celtics, the reigning NBA champions, and headed for the No. 1 seed in the East. They are on a 12-game winning streak, the third time they have won at least 10 consecutive games this season, including a 15-0 start. They also are on pace to set a franchise record in season victories, surpassing the 66-16 record from 2008-09.
Garland was one of three Cavaliers named All-Stars – Donovan Mitchell and Evan Mobley were the others – and he is having a career season in his sixth NBA year.
On Wednesday, the Cavaliers defeated Miami 112-107, and Garland had 15 points and 10 assists. He averages 21.0 points – just a fraction off his career-best of 21.7 – and is shooting career-highs from the field (48.1%) and on 3-pointers (41.9%). He also is averaging 6.8 assists and 1.1 steals. In clutch time (games within five points in the final five minutes of regulation or overtime), Garland has been stellar, shooting 59.5% from the field and 61.5% on 3s.
“This is a totally different year. It’s crazy what a total year can do and the entire 180 that has happened. It’s truly an honor,” Garland said. “It’s a blessing that I can do something I love and have one of my senses back.
“I rushed back last year trying to get back on the floor with the guys and that’s when I was down almost 20 pounds in the second round of the playoffs trying to play against the [eventual] NBA champions. That’s how eager I was. But now I’m fully healthy, had a full summer just to recover and get my weight back up and just work on my craft. It’s a big difference.”
The Garland-Mitchell backcourt is one of the best in the NBA. They jumpstart Cleveland’s offense and are part of the Cavaliers’ most efficient five-man lineups.
‘He’s been incredible in the clutch. He’s shooting the ball great. Playing good defense,’ first-year coach Kenny Atkinson told reporters. ‘I look around the league, and I respect the league and he’s got to be in that top tier. Phenomenal player.’
Garland, 25, has embraced the feel-good story in Cleveland. Minus the LeBron James seasons, the Cavaliers have reached the conference finals just twice (1976, 1992) and have never been to the NBA Finals without James on the roster.
“It’s a whole new revamp,” Garland said. “Cleveland is known from LeBron, but now it’s a shift to different young guys. Three young guys in the All-Star Game. Should have been four young guys (Jarrett Allen).
‘I just want to really recognize the shift between LeBron era to the Core Four because (president of basketball operations) Koby (Altman) and (general manager) Mike (Gansey) and everybody in that front office has really done a really good job from the draft and getting the trade with Donovan and even now, picking up De’Andre Hunter at the trade deadline. It’s a new wave of guys coming in and really trying to do something special for Cleveland.”
Garland also embraced a slight shift in his role, one that called for fewer minutes. Atkinson approached his starters and broached the idea of utilizing bench depth at the expense of playing time. Less playing team isn’t always appealing.
“I didn’t really like the concept when Kenny was talking to me about it,” Garland said. “But during training camp, our depth was one of the main things that we were talking about. We had so many weapons down the line, so many different guys we can go to and different lineups, we could switch in and out. Me and Donovan talked about it, and we just ran with it.
“We just tried to trust in his process and Kenny’s process and what he was preaching to us, and he said, ‘This is going to make us a lot better and then we can up our minutes when we get closer to the playoffs when we really need to.’ ”
Playing three fewer minutes per game than last season and five fewer than 2022-23 and 2021-22, Garland has produced the most efficient shooting season of his career.
“One of our biggest things in the past couple years was not being healthy going into the playoffs,” Garland said. “Kenny wanted to really emphasize us being healthy when we really needed to be healthy and when we needed to be full force.”
The Cavaliers and Garland have plenty to smile about right now.
Follow NBA columnist Jeff Zillgitt on social media @JeffZillgitt