The fifth overall pick smiled for the cameras, joked with teammates and answered every question from reporters like he was a 10-year veteran.
The 19-year-old hopes to re-energize an organization that is in rebuilding mode. He knows it won’t be easy, especially as a rookie, but he expects to turn things around in Cleveland.
That isn’t the only thing he does well. In fact, his teammates had nothing but praise for the rookie guard.
“He has a great feel for the game. He makes a lot of the right plays,” Jordan Clarkson said. “I didn’t know he could shoot it that well. He plays at an amazing pace. He’s very shifty. He makes everyone around him better. It’s going to be amazing to watch him play.”
Garland only played five games as a freshman at Vanderbilt. There will be plenty of growing pains for the youngster, but he’s impressed the Cavs with his maturity, playmaking ability and desire to be the best.
“I love that kid. He’s very special,” assistant coach Lindsay Gottlieb said. “I think what people know is his shooting ability. I would say if there’s a surprise, it’s what a fluid passer he is. He just has a feel. He has a tempo control that you don’t usually see in such a young guy.
"People are really going to enjoy watching him play because of the combination of his shooting and passing ability and just the feel he has with the ball in his hands.”
Garland began the 2018-2019 college basketball season as the nation’s No. 1 point guard prospect. That’s a testament to his talent, considering Ja Morant was taken with second overall pick.
Garland has an extremely high ceiling. His shooting ability and playmaking are things that come natural to him. He expects to be great and help the Cavs win games in the short and long term.
Collin Sexton averaged 16.7 points-per-game last season on 43 percent shooting. Why did the Cavaliers draft another 6’2” guard in Garland? How will the duo fit together?
“Both have a different style,” Clarkson said. “I feel like are really going to compliment each other when they get on the court. Collin [Sexton] plays fast and downhill. Darius is a little slow, not in terms of his speed, but the way he processes the game and watches the whole court, the flow of the game and everything.”
Garland knows some question their ability to defend the perimeter and have success on the defensive end of the court. He’s well aware of the size issue, but he doesn’t think it’ll be an issue for the young duo.
“It’s been really fun playing with Collin,” Garland said. “We’re just going to work hard, feed off each other. We can defend any position. That’s just a mindset. Whatever coach wants us to do, we’re going to do it.”
“We’re always going to play hard,” Garland said. “Some guys take some nights off, but we’re going to play hard for 82 games and that’s what will get us through everything.”
Garland has the ability. Some of his teammates have already seen it. Koby Altman, John Beilein and the coaching staff fell in love with him during the pre-draft process. It’s unfair to expect him to carry the organization at 19-years-old, but Garland looks poised and ready to help the Cavs turn the tide and become a competitive team in the future.