Darius Garland, the Los Angeles Clippers point guard now half a year removed from the midseason trade that ended his seven-plus years in Cleveland, spoke to HoopsHype exclusively at New Balance's 2026 Beantown Elite Experience, his second time working the camp. Garland discussed the toe injury that quietly derailed his season, what Tyronn Lue's vision for him looks like and more.
How has the last year helped you handle bigger challenges, both on the court and with relocating?
Darius Garland: It's like a revamp, really. Coming to a bigger city, a bigger market. It's a lot of weight on your shoulders, like really running a team in Los Angeles. It's a great challenge, great responsibility as well. So I'm super happy just to take that on. Got a little snippet of it last year, but to have a full year under my belt, having a training camp, having some
time with T-Lue, I'm super excited about this year.
What's it like playing for Ty Lue, and how does his vision fit your game?
DG: It's super cool, because I've actually watched him in 2016. I told him I wanted to play a little bit like Kai [Kyrie Irving] and how he played in 2016 in that Finals run. So actually seeing his vision actually work, so trying to implement it into my game, I think it would be pretty cool. It's going to be pretty interesting how he tries to fit it in. But I'm super excited. We've been talking a lot about the offense this year. I'm super excited to get back over there in LA and just be with the team and be with the guys.
How frustrating was that toe injury, and how much did it limit you?
DG: I didn't really realize it until it happened as well. So I thought it was just a toe injury. It started off as like a bone bruise at first, like, just kept stubbing my toe in the front of my shoe. And then me thinking it's just a toe, I could just play on it. It just got worse. So I had like some torn ligaments and stuff like that. So I just had to get that reconstructed. But I'm all good now.
It was very frustrating, just because the season I had before, it was really, really good. So I think we could have had a chance of making a run if I didn't get hurt. So that was pretty frustrating. But it's pretty tough just out there playing with nine toes for like half a year. But it's all good, though, because the second half of the year, I had all 10 toes. And I felt really good. I felt like I was getting back to normal. But now, having a full summer, having a full offseason back to 100 percent. It was a mental fog most of the time. Because we're using our toes 24/7. So just out there trying to run on it and play defense, slide, and everything like that. It was pretty tough. Just had to work through it. I get paid to do this stuff. I just wanted to put on my hard hat and go out there and work and do the best I could.
What was it like getting traded midseason? Was the transition hard?
DG: The trade was actually pretty easy for me, bro, to be honest with you. Which was crazy; we were already in LA, we had a road trip to LA already, so the transition wasn't too hard, to be honest with you. Mentally, it wasn't a shock, but it was still like a shock. I've been here for seven, seven and a half years, and now just to up and pack my bags like that, it was just like, dang. But it's part of the business. I understand the business side of it.
So once I got to LA, I was pretty happy. Got to be in a new city, like a real new revamp. So it was cool. Easy transition, though. Super excited to be there. I was pretty happy. I was coming to a new opportunity just to take on a new challenge. So I was excited about that.
What's it like becoming the veteran mentor to young guys like Yanic Konan Niederhäuser and Keaton Wagler?
DG: Calling me big bro and stuff. It's crazy to hear, but it's super cool just to have some young bucks around me, just to try to teach them as much as I can. And with some of the stuff that I learned, I can really just implement that into Keaton and Yanic. And then, just to work with them at a young age, I know the potential that they have is probably through the roof. Well, it is through the roof for both of them. So just try to give them little pointers to get better each day. And both are really two hard workers, so you don't have to tell them to work. Just get acclimated to the game. That's it. Just be you. That's all it is in this league. Just have some confidence in yourself.
What's an underrated or overlooked part of your game?
DG: Probably my passing. My scoring ability, I think, is pretty underrated. Everybody just thinks about my handles and just being shifty all the time. I can really pass. I can shoot it. I can run an offense at a high level as well. So just being a good all-around point guard.
Do you think people have forgotten what you're capable of?
DG: Yeah, for sure. It usually happens like that, especially when you have a couple of injuries. They tend to forget about you. But that's what another 82-game season is for: to go ahead and revamp yourself, show everybody what you're capable of. And show the confidence and the work that I put in this summer, to go out there and just lay it on the line.
What do you have to prove? What do you think is that next level?
DG: To be honest with you, I don't think I have to prove anything, brother. Just want to be the best player I can be out there. Try to go win basketball games as much as I can.
What's your experience with New Balance's Beantown event, and what does mentoring there mean to you?
DG: Super cool just being here. We've seen the top talent in the country. It's super cool to see on both sides, girls and boys. And just trying to teach them the little pointers that I have. They have a lot of good trainers here, so they're just trying to soak a lot in over a couple of days. So just trying to be out there, just be a big brother for them.
What does it mean to be asked as New Balance brand's representative for kids to look up to?
DG: It's an honor just to be here, to be a part of the brand. It's an honor. So anything they ask me to do, I'm going to try to do it to the best of my ability if I'm available. So this was a no-brainer for me. It's my second time here. So I plan on coming some more if I get invited.
It's super cool just to be here. Just seeing the top people in the country and seeing the growth of the game is super cool to see. And just to be here like a big brother for them, be a mentor. It's super cool just to be out here, just to show them a lot of love and show them the hard work that it takes to get there as well.
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This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Darius Garland Q&A: 'I told Ty Lue I wanted to play a little bit like Kyrie Irving'
