**Kevin Durant Shares Blunt Take on Darius Garland’s Defensive Impact**
Kevin Durant recently made headlines for his candid comments about Cleveland Cavaliers guard Darius Garland during an episode of the *Mind the Game* podcast with LeBron James and Steve Nash.
While discussing how NBA strategies have shifted over time, Durant used Garland as a key example in a broader conversation about the challenges smaller guards face in today’s game. He pointed out that teams often target Garland defensively due to his size, saying, *“If you want to beat the Cleveland Cavs, you go at \[Darius] Garland, most of the time.”*
At 6’1” and 192 pounds, Garland is the smallest player on the Cavaliers roster. While he averaged 1.2 steals per game last season, his limited presence in rebounding and shot-blocking highlights the physical disadvantage he faces—especially when matched up against bigger, more physical players like Durant.
Durant emphasized that this isn’t a knock on Garland’s skills—he acknowledged Garland is a great player—but rather an honest insight into how teams approach matchups. With strong rim protectors like Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen, opponents are more likely to attack Cleveland’s perimeter defense, where they view Garland as a potential weak link.
The conversation also touched on a broader trend: the decreasing number of undersized guards entering the league. As the NBA continues to evolve offensively, players who can’t hold their own defensively—regardless of talent—are becoming less common.
That said, Durant acknowledged that height isn’t everything. He pointed to players like Chris Paul, Fred VanVleet, Kyle Lowry, and Mike Conley—smaller guards who have made a name for themselves on defense thanks to their IQ, instincts, and toughness.
Ultimately, Durant’s remarks weren’t meant to disrespect Garland personally, but to illustrate how elite players think about matchups and game strategy—especially when it comes to size on defense.
Leave a Reply