Darius Garland, the point guard for the Cleveland Cavaliers, has a family legacy that includes military service, with both of his grandfathers having served in the U.S. Army, and his mother, Felicia, knowing classmates who enlisted.

This background has given Garland a deep respect for the military.

During the Cavaliers’ game against the Chicago Bulls on Veterans Day, Garland will pay tribute to two fallen soldiers and their families through the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors. He will honor U.S. Army Sergeant First Class Saadia Zambrano, who passed away in 2012, and U.S. Navy Petty Officer Third Class Ronald Kimp Jr., who died in 2018.

Both service members hailed from Gary, Indiana, the same city where Garland was born and raised. He plans to provide tickets, meals, and jerseys for their family members attending the game with him.

“I want to express my love and support to the veterans and their families,” Garland shared. “We thought it would be meaningful to do something special for them, especially since they’re from my hometown and it’s near Chicago. It’s a wonderful opportunity to honor them.”

Garland has started this season strong, recovering from a challenging previous season marked by personal loss and injury, including the death of his grandmother and a jaw injury that required surgery after a game against the Boston Celtics. He admitted that he had lost his passion for the game during that time.

However, he has found that passion again.

With the Cavaliers currently holding an undefeated record of 11-0 under new head coach Kenny Atkinson, Garland is averaging 20.5 points, 6.6 assists, and 1.2 steals per game, while achieving impressive shooting percentages of 53.8% from the field, 47.5% from three-point range, and 95% at the free-throw line.

He delivered standout performances, scoring 39 points on 15-of-22 shooting with eight assists against Milwaukee and adding 34 points on 12-of-19 shooting in another win over New York. He has also registered two double-doubles in points and assists, and helped lead the Cavaliers to a decisive 30-point victory against Golden State, contributing 27 points, six assists, and three steals.

“Darius was exceptional,” Atkinson stated following the Cavaliers’ win against Brooklyn on Saturday. “He really controlled the game.”

With aspirations for his second All-Star appearance, the Most Improved Player of the Year award, and the Clutch Player of the Year award, Garland is part of one of the top backcourt pairings in the NBA along with guard Donovan Mitchell, who averages 22.5 points per game. Atkinson has cleverly staggered their playing time to maximize their effectiveness on the court.

Atkinson’s influence has clearly shaped the Cavaliers’ offense, which is currently leading the league by scoring an average of 122 points per 100 possessions and ranking first in field goal percentage (.528), three-point shooting percentage (.422), and seventh in made three-pointers per game (5.3). Although it’s early in the season, these statistics highlight significant improvements over last year’s performance.

The core lineup of Garland, Mitchell, Jarrett Allen, and Evan Mobley is secured through at least the 2026-27 season, instilling confidence that they can contend with teams like Boston and New York in the Eastern Conference.

“We used to focus heavily on defense in previous years, but now we are emphasizing offense while maintaining our defensive principles,” Garland explained. “Offensively, there’s more space, and players are playing with a lot of confidence, shooting the ball freely.”

This offseason, Garland returned to basics, concentrating on proper foot positioning and alignment for his jump shot.

“I essentially started from scratch in the offseason, refining my skills and correcting some aspects of my game,” he noted. “I aimed to focus on the little things that would put me in better positions on the court.”

Atkinson has entrusted Garland with greater freedom and responsibilities, encouraging him to create scoring chances for himself and his teammates, especially in crucial moments of games.

In clutch scenarios—games within five points with less than five minutes remaining—Garland has been spectacular. The Cavaliers are 4-0 in such situations, with Garland scoring 24 points in 18 minutes of these intense moments, showcasing a 75% shooting rate (9-for-12), 60% from three-point range (3-for-5), and a perfect 100% at the line (3-for-3), along with contributing four assists, three rebounds, two blocks, and one steal with just a single turnover.

“It doesn’t surprise me, given his talent, intelligence, and ability as a passer and decision-maker,” Atkinson remarked. “He has a complete skill set. As a coach observing him for the first time, I am genuinely impressed by how well he handles late-game situations. He possesses exceptional game awareness and basketball IQ.”