For years, Cleveland Cavaliers fans have urged Darius Garland to be more aggressive.
The early returns of his partnership with Donovan Mitchell were promising, but he stalled – or even regressed – last season.
Now, with Kenny Atkinson at the helm, we’re watching his best version.
As FanDuel Sports Network Cleveland pointed out on X, the young point guard is thriving right now, averaging 25.5 points and 8.1 assists per game and shooting 44.8% from beyond the arc per 36 minutes.
Darius Garland is THRIVING! 😁 #LetEmKnow pic.twitter.com/1hfoYFaxE6
— FanDuel Sports Network Cleveland (@FanDuelSN_CLE) November 5, 2024
Garland has even been more aggressive than Mitchell at times this season.
Coach Kenny Atkinson has plenty of experience working with lead guards.
He helped D’Angelo Russell become an All-Star when he coached him during his tenure with the Brooklyn Nets.
Then, he spent years scheming and coaching for Stephen Curry, Jordan Poole, and Klay Thompson in the Golden State Warriors, so he knows how to maximize his backcourts.
There were some concerns about whether the Cavaliers should break up their backcourt, as having Mitchell by his side seemed to be lowering his ceiling.
There were also rumors that Garland’s camp would be ready to push for a trade this offseason if Mitchell signed a contract extension.
Fortunately, that wasn’t the case, and the two are thriving together on the 8-0 Cavaliers.
Of course, those doubts will emerge again if this team encounters a speed bump or underperforms in the playoffs.
But for now, at least, the talented point guard seems to be finally hitting his stride and becoming his best self.
NEXT: Brian Windhorst Reveals What Has Unlocked The Cavs' Offense
