Cleveland Cavaliers guard Darius Garland’s career timeline

All-Star season – Year 3

In his third season, Garland really showed to the world why he was drafted fifth overall just a few short years ago. During the 2021-22 season, Garland was an All-Star for the first time in his career, as well as his teammate, Jarrett Allen. Garland also was a candidate for the Most Improved Player award, but ultimately got third place, behind former San Antonio Spur Dejounte Murray, and the winner, Memphis Grizzlies stud Ja Morant.

Early on in the season, Collin Sexton got injured, and had to miss the entire 2021-22 season after getting surgery on his meniscus tear. Sexton averaged 24.3 points in the 2020-21 season, which meant that the Cavs were going to be missing a lot of the scoring that Sexton brought to the table.

Because Sexton was injured, the Cavs were going to need more scoring out of Garland. DG put forth his best effort, and averaged a career-high 21.7 points, 8.6 assists, and 3.3 rebounds. He also shot 46.2 percent from the field and 38.3 percent from the three-point line. He led the Cavaliers to a Play-In Tournament appearance, but ultimately lost both games, and missed the playoffs.

The next offseason, Garland signed a max contract extension, which will be $44.8 million in the final year of that contract in the 2027-28 season. Garland definitely deserves that contract, and the fact that the Cavs were able to get the contract to be signed without a player option during the last season is impressive.

Garland will be in Cleveland for the foreseeable future after that extension, and most likely, with him running the point guard spot, the Cavaliers will be a really good team for a long time.