NBA
DG
#10

Darius Garland

Guard · LA Clippers · 6-1, 192 lb · Born January 26, 2000 · Gary, Indiana · Drafted 2019 Round 1, Pick 5 (Cleveland Cavaliers)
2x All-StarNo. 5 Pick 2019Elite PnR Guard
NBALA ClippersGuards
Compare:vs Lopezvs Jr.vs Zubacvs Collinsvs Millervs Leonard
In short

Darius Garland is a two-time NBA All-Star point guard (2022, 2025), a former No. 5 pick out of Vanderbilt who broke out with the Cleveland Cavaliers before a 2026 trade to the LA Clippers, known for deep shooting and elite pick-and-roll creation.

Matchup model · next gameMedium confidenceTue, Nov 10
@Indiana PacersAggressive hedge & help
Proj. points
19.9
range 16.9–23
Line 20
49%
to go over
Team win
37%
111–114
Poi 19.9 Lean underReb 2.3 Lean underAss 6.4 Lean underPRA 28.6 Lean over
Likely on himAndrew Nembhard· 80 Perimeter DStrong defender
15+ pts93%20+ pts49%25+ pts7%

Model lines Garland at 19.9 pts (range 16.9–23) vs a 20 line — roughly a coin flip to clear it (49%).

Model favors Indiana Pacers (63%), projected 111–114, ~225 total at 96.6 pace.

Full matchup breakdown · all markets →
Balladex Matchup Model — modeled from real roster ratings, scoring baselines & defender-matchup history. Schedule, availability & head-to-head samples are illustrative in this prototype; production wires live schedule, injury & player-tracking feeds. Not betting advice.
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The Garland Story — narrated
Tap play to hear his story, told as a 90-second short.
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Darius Garland played five college games — and still became a two-time NBA All-Star.

A torn meniscus ended his Vanderbilt season early, but Cleveland trusted the talent and drafted him fifth overall in 2019.

He broke out in 2021-22 with his first All-Star selection and a third-place Most Improved finish, then made a second All-Star team as the 2024-25 Cavaliers won 64 games.

A February 2026 trade sent him to the Clippers, where he announced himself with a 41-point, 11-assist, eight-three explosion against Dallas.

— end of story —
Want the full numbers? Open the breakdown →
PPG
19.9
2025-26
RPG
2.3
per game
APG
6.4
per game
FG%
.471
.438 from three
LIFE

Roots & the rise

A dynamic, deep-shooting lead guard, Darius Garland overcame a five-game college career to become a two-time All-Star and one of the NBA's most creative pick-and-roll maestros.

Darius Kinnard Garland was born January 26, 2000 in Gary, Indiana, the son of former NBA guard Winston Garland. A four-time state champion and three-time Tennessee Mr. Basketball at Brentwood Academy, he was the nation's top point-guard recruit.

His Vanderbilt career lasted just five games before a torn meniscus, but Cleveland still took him fifth overall in 2019. He broke out in 2021-22 with his first All-Star nod and finished third in Most Improved Player voting.

He earned a second All-Star selection in 2024-25 as the Cavaliers won 64 games, then was traded to the LA Clippers in February 2026 in a deal involving James Harden, immediately posting a 41-point, 11-assist night.

Sources: Wikipedia, Basketball-Reference, NBA.com.

BEYOND THE GAME

Off the Court

Garland is the son of Winston Garland, a seven-season NBA guard, and grew up in a basketball family with an older sister and four older brothers; both grandfathers served in the U.S. Army.

Nicknamed 'Boog,' he carries a quiet, competitive demeanor and has kept a relatively low off-court profile centered on his family's basketball roots.

PERSONALITY

The person

Creative, confident and unflappable, Garland is a shot-making lead guard who thrives with the ball in his hands.

Deep RangeComfortable pulling up from well beyond the arc off the dribble.
Pick-and-Roll MaestroElite change of pace and creation out of ball screens.
ResilientOvercame a season-ending college injury to become a two-time All-Star.
PLAYER DNA

Archetype & ratings

Archetype
Lead Guard · Playmaker
Temperament
Alpha
Leadership
58/100
Scoring73
Playmaking75
Rebounding40
Perimeter D64
Rim protection21
Spacing78
Athleticism70
Clutch68
a shot-making lead guard acquired from Cleveland for James Harden
ANALYSIS

What the numbers say

Shot Creation

Garland is a score-first lead guard with deep range, elite handle and change of pace — a pull-up shooter and pick-and-roll creator who bends defenses off the dribble.

Passing Feel

He pairs scoring with strong playmaking and a healthy assist-to-turnover profile, capable of running an offense as the primary hub.

Size Limits

At 6-foot-1 he faces defensive limitations and finishing challenges against length, and durability (knee, toe) has occasionally been a concern.

STATS

Season by season

Per game

SeasonGPMINPTSREBASTFG%3P%
2025-261929.119.92.36.4.471.438

Source: Basketball-Reference.

ADVANCED

Advanced & historical

Where he sits in history

DraftNo. 5, 2019 (Cleveland)
All-Star2x (2022, 2025)
CollegeVanderbilt (5 games)

Hardware

2x
NBA All-Star
No. 5
2019 draft pick
3rd
2022 MIP voting
OUTLOOK

Where it's headed

AI-generated · updated 2026

A two-time All-Star lead guard entering a new chapter with the Clippers.

Garland arrives in LA on his rookie-max extension as a proven All-Star creator. Pairing his shot-making and playmaking with the Clippers' veteran core, his outlook hinges on staying healthy and thriving as a primary or co-lead guard.

Shot CreationElite
PlaymakingHigh
Defense/SizeLimited

Contract

Status
Rookie-max extension Signed 2022 (Cleveland)
Bottom line

A two-time All-Star shot-maker — one of the league's craftiest lead guards, now driving the Clippers' backcourt.

FAQ

Quick answers

Where was Darius Garland drafted?

Fifth overall in 2019 by the Cleveland Cavaliers.

How many times has Garland been an All-Star?

Twice — 2022 and 2025, both as a reserve. He has not made an All-NBA team.

Why did his college career last only five games?

A torn meniscus at Vanderbilt ended his 2018-19 season early.

How did Garland end up with the Clippers?

Cleveland traded him to the LA Clippers in February 2026 in a deal involving James Harden.