
Darius Garland and Donovan Mitchell have forged a deeper bond after a tough end to the 2023-24 season. Their “grown man conversation” this summer became a turning point for the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Garland, reflecting on his challenges last year, explained the impact of his injuries. “A lot of people doubted me last year, bro. Like you said, I was going through a lot of injuries. I had a broken jaw and a lot of family stuff I was dealing with,” Garland shared during his appearance on The Draymond Green Show, via HoopsHype.
The jaw injury affected his body, with Garland losing 15 pounds. “I was eating out of a straw, literally blending anything I could find in the house just to try to get some nutrients,” he recalled.
The impact of Garland’s health struggles was clear in the playoffs. Despite pushing through, Garland admitted, “I was in the second round of the playoffs, playing against the Boston Celtics—the team that went on to the Finals—and I was down 15 pounds.” He pushed through his discomfort but was not at full strength. “I’m playing at the highest level, and I’m not even fully healthy,” he said.
The difficult conclusion to the season fueled a conversation between Garland and Mitchell this summer. “To be completely honest, bro, I’mma really say this summer is when we really, really got locked in on what we wanted to do,” Garland said. They both felt frustrated with the team’s performance, and Mitchell knew Garland’s desire for improvement. “He knew I was pretty upset about last year—not having the performance that I wanted or the one he wanted,” Garland said.
The conversation became a defining moment. “We just sat down and talked. We explained to each other, ‘This is what we’re gonna have to do to win. This is what we’re gonna have to do to get to the Eastern Conference Finals and to the Finals,’” Garland added. He described it as the first time he had a “grown man conversation” in the NBA, one that would help guide the team forward.
The Cavaliers’ momentum from their intense discussions has carried into the 2024-25 season. After parting ways with head coach J.B. Bickerstaff and hiring Kenny Atkinson, Cleveland started the new season with a historic 15-game win streak. It marked the fourth-longest season-opening streak in NBA history.
Cleveland’s early dominance has been led by Garland and Mitchell, who have both played pivotal roles. Garland is averaging 21.2 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 6.8 assists per game. His newfound chemistry with Mitchell and their shared commitment to improvement has made the Cavaliers one of the NBA’s most dangerous teams, with the best record in the league at 36-6.