Darius Garland talks about learning from Rajon Rondo and Ricky Rubio on the Cavaliers. Rondo pulled him off a bus to watch film and taught him pick-and-roll reads during timeouts. Rubio pushed him to be more aggressive and consistent as a leader.
Chapters
What's up everybody? It's Draymond Green. Make sure you subscribe to the Volumes YouTube channel below so you don't miss any more of this great content going forward. Did you feel like, because you and Ricky Rubio was playing well, and I mean, there were lineups, I think one of y'all best lineups this year was with y'all two on the court together. What did you learn from Ricky Rubio? Did he help you out a lot? Obviously has a ton of experience, and not just in the NBA, he has a ton of experience playing in Spain, playing for Spain as far as Olympics and World Cups and, you know, world basketball goes. Very, very, very smart player. Did you find playing with Ricky Rubio beneficial for your growth?
Yeah, for sure. Ricky taught me a lot. To be honest with you, Ricky was the first person that really got on me about leadership this year. And that really made me turn, like, the next page, I believe. Ricky was just on me all the time, just about being aggressive, keeping everybody engaged, and then just having that killer mindset. Like, this is your team. Like, this is all yours. So Ricky, it was just how he went about his day and the consistency that he put in and everything to do with his body, just staying healthy and— Yeah. Just bringing that attitude to the game. I mean, like Ricky was amazing for me to be honest with you, bro. Yeah. Ricky changed a lot.
That's incredible. And it looked like that. And I think, you know, it helps when you have a young team, especially a young point guard like yourself who does not have much experience. I've seen over the course of time, like, you know, a team bringing a veteran point guard, like you're not coming to take the spot. Like that's not happening. But you come and bring that mentorship. And I just watch him from afar. I thought that that was a big help for you. 'Cause you could just see certain changes that you've made. Your decision-making has gone up another couple notches. Your playmaking, like your shot making. But all of those things go hand in hand, you know, like it's taking the right shots, you know, it's seeing the floor differently. And obviously you've always had court vision, but All of those things has taken a step up. So it was great to see them bring a guy in that can help the growth. And what, like, I hate nothing more than a team having all young guys. Like, we're gonna, like, who's there to teach that young guy what needs to be done?
Right.
Or you just think he's gonna figure it out on his own. Like, yeah, there's some things that you are going to figure out on your own just by playing. And like, you learn and you see those things. But there's other things that you can see it a million times and you're not gonna understand it until someone can help you understand it. And I think when you have veterans, it's always better to get certain things from a veteran player than it is from a coach.
Right.
Because you just, you just take it in differently. You know?
Yeah.
And so I thought that was huge. And now having a Rajon Rondo, who in my mind, is top 5 smartest guys in the NBA. Have you saw any benefit in having Rondo around?
Yeah. Literally the second day I met Doe, I'm on the phone with my pops. I'm on the phone with my dad. And we are on a bus on the way to SAC. We're leaving y'all on the way to SAC. I'm like, I'm talking to my dad and I just hear somebody in the back. "DG!" He just screamed my name. I'm like, "What?" I just instantly hung up. I'm like, "Dad, I'll call you right back. Hold on." Doe called me. He like, "Come back here and watch this film." So he watched a whole film from a Sacramento game. So I'm like, nobody never did that with me. Literally.
Mm-hmm.
Like, you the first. I told him, I said, "You the first person that ever caught me in the back of the bus and watched a full game with me." Like, and that meant a lot to me. That was the second day I met him. So that connection's been there. That's what's up. He's teaching me a lot. I come pick his brain, like, during timeouts to see what he sees on the floor, and I'm telling him what I see. And I mean, he's a master in the pick and roll, and that's all we run nowadays. So just trying to see, like, different spots and different reads and where people want the ball at. So I mean, he's been a huge help for me as well.
For sure. That's beautiful. And honestly, them bringing in Rondo, obviously to help, you know, take on the backup point guard responsibility, but it also, it really shows their commitment to you as their franchise player, as their point guard, because they keep surrounding you with guys that they know are smart, that they know truly understands this game. And most importantly, are leaders and can help teach.
Right.
And it's a beautiful thing that they've done. I am excited about it.
