Point guard Darius Garland has once again made headlines in the NBA. The 24-year-old earned the distinction of Eastern Conference Player of the Week, a title announced for the games stretching last Monday through Sunday. This marks the third time in his career that Garland has snagged the prestigious honor, signaling his burgeoning prominence in the league.
Joining the ranks of Cavalier legends, Garland is perched alongside names like LeBron James, who nabbed the award an impressive 42 times, and fellow teammates Donovan Mitchell and Kyrie Irving. According to WKYC, Garland becomes the fourth Cavalier to win the award three or more times. Garland has rapidly blossomed into one of the most crucial players for Cleveland, which is reflected in his standout performances, which contributed significantly to the team's best start in history.
The statistics backing Garland's latest accolade detail his impressive run over the past week. He averaged 26.0 points and 7.7 assists across three games, shooting an efficient 52.8% from the field and 40.9% from the three-point line, reported Cleveland.com. Compounded with a 92.9% success rate from the free-throw line, his performance was top-notch. Garland emerged as the only player in the NBA this past week to average at least 20 points and seven assists while maintaining shooting percentages above 50% from the field, 40% from three, and 90% from the free-throw line.
Garland's consistent excellence is a week-long flare and a season-long fire. He's been raking impressive numbers, with an average of 20.9 points, 6.7 assists, and 1.1 steals in just 30.2 minutes per game for the season. Cleveland.com notes that he also shoots a stellar 49.8% from the field and 42.9% from the three-point line. He also leads the NBA from the free-throw line at 91.7%, ranking third overall.
With an NBA-best 33-5 record, the Cavaliers owe much of their success to Garland's contributions. He led the team to their biggest win against the Oklahoma City Thunder, scoring 18 points with seven assists. The following night, Garland was instrumental in a come-from-behind victory over Toronto, putting up a whopping 40 points and joining an elite cadre of players with five or more 40-point performances in the franchise's history, as described in a piece by Cleveland19.
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