The Darius Garland bandwagon is filling up as many expect him to break out into stardom this season for the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Amid the speculation that the Cleveland Cavaliers could either make a move for Ben Simmons or would be a good landing spot for him, and the elephant in the locker room that is the Collin Sexton situation, there’s one other storyline for the team heading into the season that should have fans excited.
It’s the potential for a breakout season from Darius Garland.
NBA Executives that were polled pinpointed Garland as a breakout candidate and even Stephen Curry gave voice to that thinking when he said he thought he was going to develop into a star.
Even before the season starts or even prior to the opening of training camps, there are already lofty expectations being placed on Garland as he enters his third season with the Cavs.
Garland made a huge jump from his rookie season to his sophomore season in which he averaged 17 points and six assists per game on 45 percent shooting from the field and 40 percent from 3-point range. He quietly had one of the best sophomore seasons in the NBA last year, and that’s with Sexton still getting the most usage in the team’s offense.
If Garland becomes the primary offensive player – and there’s still no guarantee that will happen with Sexton still on the roster – there’s no question he’s going to make another jump in his game during his third season.
And the third season is generally when stars make their leap. If players haven’t made the star jump by their third season in the league, it’s rare that it will come after that. Perhaps that’s why many believe Garland is on the verge of having a memorable season in Cleveland.
If Garland is going to make the star jump, it will come this season. He has all the tools to be a star in the league and this is the year for him to have his coming-out party. Of course, a trade for Simmons is something that could throw all of this off track.
I’m not sure what Simmons’ presence on the roster would do to impact Garland’s development, but perhaps that’s a river to cross if it actually happens.
Either way, if you’re looking to get on the Garland bandwagon you need to get on it soon. It’s filling up quickly.